1. Collingwood College
WORK EXPERIENCE 2016
18 APRIL – 22 APRIL 2016

2. This year’s work experience placements

3. Student Presentations
Callum Sutton – 10C Ellen Goggin – 10F Jessica McDonald – 10B

8. Why is work experience and WRL important?
An opportunity for students to experience the positives and negatives of the ‘real world’.
Career exploration and motivation in College.
Where am I now?
Where do I want to be?
Students that have an idea of what they want to do/where they want to be in the future tend to have increased levels motivation at College. This will undoubtedly impact on their attainment. Work experience facilitates this career exploration.
How am I going to get there?

9. Why is work experience and WRL important?
Worthwhile experience to add to your future CV
Future employment
Some occupations require previous work experience
Pupils will gain new transferable skills and develop existing ones
Real experience of a career they may have an interest in
It may help with post-16 options
It will also show an early interest in a career area which may help the candidate to look more favourable as an applicant in the future.

10. Students comments… Gives you confidence
Work Experience 2016
Gives you confidence
It’s motivated me more in College
Teaches you discipline
You learn new things
It helped me to decide what career I want to have in the future

11. It helped me to link subjects I study now to my future
Students comments…
It helped me to link subjects I study now to my future
Work Experience 2016
I gained an understanding of what work is like and I truly believe I got a lot out of it
My work experience taught me that work isn’t as fun or easy as school. Everyday is difficult, so it’s important to work hard at school to get the job you want

12. Employers comments…
Pleasure to have him here for a week, fantastic staff member
Work Experience 2016
I must say that I could not have asked for a better trainee
A little star!
She’s a credit to Collingwood College
He is really confident and nothing has been too much trouble
I would definitely consider employing her in a voluntary role
When the “youth of today” get such a bad press it was a joy and a pleasure to have K set such an example of ability, motivation and virtue

13. Evaluation of Work Experience 2015…
92% students enjoyed the week
88% said they had learnt something worthwhile from the experience.
79% felt it helped them to consider their career ideas for the future.

14. What do students need to consider before finding a placement?
Work Experience 2016
What kind of work they are interested in?
What career ideas they have (if any)?
Do they/you know someone who works in the industry they are interested in?
What subjects do they enjoy?
Travel/Location

15. Finding a placement
Work Experience 2016
The emphasis is on the student to find their own placement. This is invaluable practice for the future. Your son/daughter will have already:
Had an assembly about work experience and how to find a placement.
Worked through a booklet in morning registration, with the help of their tutor.
Been given all the paperwork they need to find their placement.
Puts some of the college’s careers education and guidance programme into practice: CV writing; letters of application; interview skills; finding vacancies; researching career ideas; health and safety at work.

16. Supporting the students…
Work Experience 2016
Whilst students are expected to execute the process of finding a placement, it is really important that they are offered the correct support.
Key staff within the College:
Mr Woolford IAG Co-ordinator
Mrs Fuller IAG Administrator
Mr Andrews Year Manager
Mrs P Collier Senior Work Related Learning Co-ordinator - SHAPE
Form Tutors
Subject Teachers
Learning Support Department

17. How can you help?
Work Experience 2016
Speak to your son/daughter about their work experience and help them to consider their options. Also talk to them about the booklet they have completed in registration. This booklet, called “Work Experience 2016: What shall I do for my work experience?”, looks into:
- Identifying where they would like to go for work experience.
- How to find employers.
- How to write a letter/ to an employer for work experience.
- How to complete the work experience application form.
Think about whether you know anyone in the industry sector they are interested in.
Encourage them to write a letter/ and to telephone the employers of their choice.
Once a placement is secured, your son/daughter must get their work experience application form signed and completed.

18. Student fills in this part
Employer completes this part
Parent/Carer must sign!

19. How can you help?
Work Experience 2016

20. Things to note…
Work Experience 2016
Finding a placement may take longer than you think so the earlier you start the more likely you are to be successful.
Employers tend to prefer the student to contact them, please encourage this. In circumstances where a student needs more support, we are happy to help.
Students must realise that it is particularly difficult to arrange placements in the more ‘glamorous’ areas: media, TV, journalism, photography and the arts etc…
If your son/daughter does not hear back from an employer, they must follow up the letter/ with a telephone call.
Gaining experience in an environment that requires students to utilise transferrable skills is just as relevant when trying to build experience on a CV for a particular career area.

21. Things to note…
Work Experience 2016
Students are not permitted to accept wages whilst on work experience as this invalidates the insurance.
Students are expected to work hours typical for that particular organisation – these hours may be longer and/or different to College hours.
Students are expected to comply with the health and safety regulations of the organisations in which they are working and employers will ensure that students are briefed at the beginning of the placement.
Some employers do not take students for work experience. This may be because:
- The company will not allow them to
- Age restrictions
- Confidentiality

22. Timeline of work experience
Month
Details
July 2015
Booklets and help in registration
Envelope home:
Work Experience Application Form
Letter to parents
Parents/Carers guide
Work Experience Assembly

23. Timeline of work experience
Aug 2015
Students usually use this time to find
their work experience placement
Sept 2015
Assembly - Work Experience
Careers Department offer work
experience clinics held by SHAPE
Tutors to monitor and support their
tutor group
Learning support involvement

24. Timeline of work experience
Oct 2015
Additional SHAPE clinics
10 Praise points awarded
Deadline for Work Experience
Application Forms:
23 October 2015
Nov 2015-Feb 2016
Support for students who miss the deadline, where appropriate
Final deadline for completed application forms:
4 March 2016

25. Timeline of work experience
March/April 2016
Work Experience Preparation
assembly
registration
PACE Lesson
SHAPE health & safety assembly
SHAPE paperwork given out:
Job Description
Health and Safety Form/Booklet
Work Experience Diary
Employer Report

26. Timeline of work experience
April 2016
WORK EXPERIENCE WEEK
18 APRIL – 22 APRIL 2016
Tutor Visits
Employer Reports
Work Experience Student Evaluation
Work Experience Debrief in PACE
Work Experience Certificates
distributed

28. Contact Details
Work Experience 2016
If you have any queries about the work experience programme please do not hesitate to contact me:
Mr C Woolford
IAG Co-ordinator
Direct Line:
SHAPE: (Mrs P Collier)
Parent Portal
Info: Careers web-site on VLE

29. Work Experience 2016
Any questions...?