The week before half term our Year 10s were given the opportunity to take part in work experience. The purpose of the work experience placement is to help pupils develop an insight into the world of work; to help them develop employability skills and to find out more about a particular career.
Pupils were expected to arrange the placement themselves, contacting employers independently and confirming arrangements. Some employers invited pupils in for pre work experience placement interviews. Organising a work experience placement can be a daunting task and the pupils managed to secure some amazing placements including: Architects, Veterinary Practices, Law Firms, Police Force, Fire Service, Retail, Museums, Hairdressers, Engineering Companies and Hotels amongst others.
Feedback from pupils has been extremely positive with pupils expressing that they have developed their skills in leadership, teamwork, self-confidence, communication, IT, organisation and creativity. Many pupils enjoyed the freedom that comes with being in a workplace, the opportunity to meet and work with a variety of people and the responsibility when given a task to carry out.
Mattie Lane (10King) and Lucienne Voisin (10Otter) spent their week at the South Downs National Park. They decided to go there as have a love of the outdoors and wanted to help conserve and protect the beautiful wildlife and landscape that surrounds this part of the country. They had a great time, helping to move trees that had been cut down, remove black thorn, and chopped down small trees. Mattie and Lucienne also got to spend time visiting the many sites that form the national park including a housing estate and a chalk quarry.
This year the feedback from employers has once again shown how impressed they are with our pupils and what a credit to the school our pupils are. Comments such as ‘I am so very, very impressed’, ‘a delight to have’ ‘always happy and willing’, ‘extremely conscientious’, ‘fitted in beautifully’, ‘excellent team player’ were made by employers, with many offering future opportunities to the pupils.
Thank you to everyone who support our pupils during their time at work.
Mrs A Hopp, Careers Coordinator
