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Work Experience
As part of our careers programme, we provide Year 10 students with the opportunity to take part in Work Experience. Participation is not compulsory, but represents the possibility for students to engage in a week long experience that could provide a valuable insight into the world of employment.
There is a cost of £49 per student to participate, (£25 for students eligible for Pupil Premium). This is to cover the cost of the legally required health and safety checks that must be completed before a student can attend a placement. This also covers the cost of any support needed to help students find a suitable placement. The academy has employed Southwark Education Business Alliance (SEBA), to provide this support. They are also providing training sessions for the students, the first of which took place prior to half term.
| Deadlines | |
|---|---|
| Complete the online survey | 19th October |
| Booking Form returned | 8th February |
| Placement confirmation | 29th March |
The Process
If students wish to take part in the week, the following steps need to be completed by the deadlines above.
- Complete the online survey by clicking here.
- Make a payment via ParentPay of £49 (£25 for students eligible for Pupil Premium).
- Complete the Work Experience Booking Form, which you can download from the bottom of this page.
- Arrange an interview with your work experience employer.
As soon as your Work Experience Booking Form is returned, the Academy will make contact with your prospective employer to confirm the placement and to send them relevant documents.
How to Find a Placement
A work placement is your opportunity to spend a period of time outside the classroom, learning about a particular job or area of work. It can help you decide on your options for after Year 11 and will give you the opportunity to develop and show evidence of vital skills such as self-confidence, communication, independence and a variety of others, depending on what kind placement you do.
What types of Work Experience Can I do?
Most of you will be expected to find you own placements. Think about what do you want to do. What are your favourite subjects? Ask for help making a list of related jobs. If you start looking in time you will be able to find a suitable placement.
English: Newspapers, Libraries, Press Officer, Teacher, Solicitors, Advertising, TV & Film, radio
Maths: Banking, Accountancy & finance, Engineering, Meteorology
Geography: Environmental services, Development organisations, Charities, Politics
Family is often a good source for finding placements. Do your parents/guardians do something you are interested in? How about your brothers and sisters or your aunties and uncles? Do you already know anywhere you may like to work? e.g. a shop that you like, or an organisation you pass on the way to school?
Go to www.yell.co.uk and search for a local business in the field of work you would like to do.
For example, you could search for "solicitor" in "Croydon". Give this a try!
You could also try www.propects.ac.uk where you can research job roles and sectors, un-to-date industry insights, job opportunities for subjects you are studying and more.
Tips for a Successful Placement
Make a list of 10 places you would like to apply to.
Call or visit them and ask if they have work experience opportunities. For example: “Hello, I’m enquiring about the possibility of organising a work experience placement with you from 2nd July.”
If they offer work experience, they will tell you what to do next. Remember, competition for work experience can be really tough, so you'll need to make the right impression when asking them.
Be selfish. Don’t ask for you AND a friend; employers are unlikely to want a group of friends hanging out at their business. You will also come across more confident and keen if you are asking just for yourself.
World of Work
Click here to fill in the Year 10 and Year 11 survey
Click here to fill in the Year 9 survey
