Work Experience

Work experience provides a fantastic opportunity for students to gain new skills, raise their aspirations and develop their understanding of the world of work.  Every student is entitled to a work experience placement at the start of Year 11 and in Sixth Form. A meaningful work experience placement can take many months to organise, and the competition is great for the places that can offer countless opportunities. For this reason, it is important to start the process as early as possible.

Due to the amount of time it takes to find suitable placements for students in the areas they wish to experience, students are encouraged to source their own placements with the full support of the school. This will help to ensure that they get the placement that they want and will mean that the placement is more suited to their future career choices. Although it is not always possible for students to carry out their placement where they wish or in the area they want, work experience is designed for students to experience the world of work.

The Benefits of Work Experience

Work Experience offers students the chance to gain experience in a variety of situations whilst giving them an insight into the demands of full time work. This can be an invaluable experience to prepare students for what to expect when they leave full time education. It has historically been proven that students are more focused on their education after having completed their work experience.

Completing work experience demonstrates that students are both motivated and committed to their future. A recent survey conducted by UCAS, showed two thirds of employers look for graduates with relevant work experience because it helps them prepare for work and develop general business awareness.

Work experience can provide students with:

  • An insight into different sectors and careers

  • The opportunity to use and apply skills and knowledge in a professional environment

  • The chance to develop ‘employability skills’ or ‘soft skills’ that are required not only in the workplace, but in life, these include communication, working with others and problem solving

  • Improved confidence and self-esteem by seeing what they can achieve outside of a school setting

  • The opportunity to ‘have a go’ in an area of potential interest

  • Increased self-understanding, maturity, independence and self-confidence

  • Increased motivation to continue study and/or undertake further training

  • The opportunities for part-time and casual employment

  • Valuable experience to add to their CV

Work Experience Process

Work experience will take place from Monday 2nd September - Friday 6th September 2024.

Step One: Complete the Parent Consent Form, students cannot take part in WEX without parental consent. Deadline - Monday 19th February

Step Two: Students should begin to research companies where they would like to do their work experience. It helps to have a list of a few companies as sometimes they may have to contact more than one before getting an offer. Make use of the schools work experience database.

Step Three: Contact the company and ask if they can offer a work experience placement.

Step Four: Once students have been offered a placement, email the employer the link to the booking form. Employers must complete the booking form to confirm the placement. Any queries the employer may have can be emailed to careers@hswv.co.uk.

Step Five: Make a note of important information such as dress code and working hours. If students have any questions regarding the placement, they should ask now.

Step Six: Make contact in August 2024 to confirm placement and start time.

All work experience placements must be confirmed before Friday 26th April 2024


Work Experience Contacts

The CEIAG Team in school will offer support and guidance to all students in finding the right placement for them. We have a dedicated Guidance Manager who co-ordinates a number of independent careers advisors.  Careers appointments can be made available to all students on a case-by-case basis.

The Tutor Programme will offer further support by providing students with a sample CV and cover letter along with a telephone script to help with making those all-important telephone calls to potential employers. Students will be given time during form time to work towards finding a placement.

If students need help finding/organising their placement they can can speak to:

Virtual Work Experience

In addition to their work experience placement, students can take part in work experience virtually at any point in the year. These work experience opportunities are useful to get a flavour of all the different sectors students may be interested in. As these are virtual, students can take part in more than one, and can do it from their own home. Click here to view a list of virtual work experience opportunities.