Work experience - Newbury Manor School

Work experience, including work-shadowing, is one of the most important links between local employers and schools. This exposure to work is a significant step in helping to prepare young people for adult and working life by developing their personal and social skills as well as the key skills they will need for the world of work. Work experience that is well planned and well organised has an important role in developing a student’s personal and social skills and gives them opportunities to learn directly about the world of work in preparation for life after they leave school.

Where possible, all pupils at Newbury Manor have the opportunity to undertake work experience in Year 10 to Year 12 – this is frequently for the equivalent of a week, with the specific timings planned to best meet the needs of both the individual pupil and the employer.

A meaningful work experience gives a young person the opportunity to explore what it is like to work in that environment, what skills are valued in the workplace, their recruitment processes and what it takes to be successful. This could be achieved through visits to workplaces, work shadowing and/or work experience. Throughout the careers programme these experiences could be in person or a combination of in person and virtual, where appropriate and we support both the young person and employer for the experience.

A meaningful work experience will:

Have a clear purpose, which is shared with the employer and the young person
Be underpinned by learning outcomes that are appropriate to the needs of the young person
Involve extensive two-way interactions between the young person and employees
Include opportunities for young people to meet a range of different people from the workplace
Include opportunities for young people to perform a task set by the employer or to produce a piece of work relevant to that workplace
Include the employer providing feedback to the young person about their work
Be followed by opportunities for the young person to reflect on the insights, knowledge or skills gained through their experience

Work experience responsibilities

The Headteacher and Governing Body have overall responsibility to ensure the health, safety and welfare of students on work experience. They will ensure that:

The suitability of work experience placements has been assessed by a competent person
An individual risk assessment is written for each pupil prior to starting a work experience placement
Employers offering work experience have current public liability insurance in place
There is clear communication with all key parties involved with the work placement
Health and safety procedures are followed
Arrangements are in place to provide placement providers with information regarding any additional needs of the student
Lead staff are familiar with the risk assessments for placements being visited
Any identified personal protective equipment or clothing is worn
Staff comply with the school’s incident reporting procedure and that all parties understand their responsibilities

Successful ongoing management of work experience programmes relies on a process of evaluation; we ensure that we gain feedback on each placement from both the employer and the student.