Work Experience 2013

Year 10 is a crucial time for all students to explore the career pathways available to them. Work experience is a fantastic opportunity for students to experience working in an environment they are considering as a future option. Work experience will enable them to develop new skills and link their learning to real life situations. Students have been introduced to this exciting journey during an assembly in early February 2013.

Work experience is a structured programme delivered mainly through tutor time and all students are supported by their tutor throughout the planning process. It is essential that Parents /Carers work with us and support the aspirations of their Son/Daughter, ensuring they are seeking a placement that will link with their aspirations and career paths.

Key Dates

• February 2013: Work Experience launch to students and tutors
• 4th February: Work Experience Assembly
• 25th March: Deadline for completed work placement forms
• 3rd June: Parental consent and Employer placement forms complete
• 25th June: Final Health and Safety briefing and issue of placement diaries
• 15th July: Work Experience starts
• 19th July: Work Experience ends

 

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Useful Documents

• Stage One: Exploring (72k pdf document)
  The most important thing when planning a career, is to think about the things you enjoy doing.
• Stage Two - Making Contact (100k pdf document)
• Work Experience Placement Selection (49k pdf document)
• Work Experience Request Form (58k pdf document)
• Health Declaration (64k pdf document)
• Letter to Parents/Carers 02/2013 (122k pdf document)

 

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FAQ

• What is Work Experience?
  Work Experience is an essential part of Year 10 Work Related Learning. Students will attend a work placement of their choice for a full week, during normal school hours, observing and working alongside and supervised by, an employer, ideally related to a career pathway they are interested in. This experience has been proven to help student's personal and social development, aiding the development of key skills in a work environment and improving chances of future employment.
  
• When will Work Experience take place?
  The work experience week will take place from Monday 15th July until Friday 19th July 2013. It is mandatory that all Year 10 students undertake a work placement.
• What happens now?
  The work experience co-ordinator will be working very closely with the Year 10 team. The Head of Year and Tutors will work with students to ensure everything runs as smoothly as possible and will be keeping them informed every step of the way. All Year 10 students will also attend an assembly which will explain the importance of work experience and some more information about the process.
• How does my child find their own placement?
  All students are required to investigate and secure their own placement, this will require them to write a covering letter and approach the employer directly. Tutors will support their tutees throughout this process and we also encourage parental support when searching for a suitable placement. Sometimes students may have family members who have offered them work experience at their company/place of work. The employer will need to have Employer Liability Insurance and meet required Health and Safety standards. No student will be placed within a company where a Health and Safety visit has not been completed or where a Health and Safety visit has failed.
  Students will have access to a database of previous placements used by the College, but can also undertake a placement of their own choice, which may not be on this database. Below are links that will help research career options;
  CASCAiD ltd: Kudos Licence number code: homesurf17 http://www.cascaid.co.uk/kudos
  www.direct.gov.uk/nationalcareersservice
  
• What type of work placement should my Son/daughter be looking to secure?
  Where possible students should be looking to gain work experience within or relating to, the employment sector they are considering as a future career choice. This will allow them to ask questions and make informed decisions as to whether this may be the correct career choice for them. There are a few select employment areas where students are not allowed to undertake work experience. There are also high health and safety risk occupations such as Farming and Construction where students are not allowed to undertake certain tasks.

The vast majority of our students have an extremely positive work experience process, and take full advantage of this opportunity. Tavistock College’s aim is for every Year10 student to have a suitable placement during work experience week. Students are advised, with support from their tutor and home to research and gain a placement as early as possible. This means the mandatory Health and Safety Risk Assessment and relevant paperwork can be carried out and completed in good time and the placement confirmed. Placements are assessed according to level of risk by Devon Education Business Partnership, and our work experience coordinator.

Students are required to attend work experience for a full week, attendance will be monitored. Tutors /members of staff will visit /contact every employer to enquire after the students’ progress and wellbeing. Students are also required to complete a work experience diary which will form part of their progression profile in year 11.

Need any more information?

Please do not hesitate to contact the work experience co-ordinator, Mrs Cathy Sharp by the following methods:
Email: c.sharp@tavistockcollege.devon.sch.uk
Telephone: 01822 614231 ext 203

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page updated Tuesday, May 14, 2013