Work Experience
What is Work Experience?
Work Experience is a period of temporary student employment in Year 12, for two weeks aimed to give students a realistic view of the industry they are hoping to enter after studying.
How will Work Experience help in the future?
Through work experience students can develop some of the skills employers are looking for, such as:
* Communication
* Working with others
* Application of Information Communication Technology
* Application of numbers
* Problem solving
* Resilience
To decide which kind of work experience is appropriate, students have been encouraged to think about what they want to achieve and how it fits in with their interests and academic commitments. By doing this they will maximise the learning value of the work experience.
Some of our Work Experience partners include;
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Work experience benefits to students:
* Discovering whether a career of interest is for them.
* Exchanging ideas with industry professionals
* Developing networks with potential future employers
* Experiencing working life and all this entails
* Improving their CV and personal statements.
* Standing out from the crowd
* Putting academic knowledge into practice
* Improving knowledge of themselves
* Building confidence through working with others
The Process
At St Thomas the Apostle College 6th Form we place importance on students becoming independent young adults and therefore give the responsibility for finding a placement to the individual student.
It is imperative that students seek placements that offer them a realistic experience of the world of work in an industry they are interested in pursuing in the future. This experience will also be an important component of future university applications and enhance UCAS personal statements and references.
Although placements must be self-found, we encourage students to use their network of contacts (family and friends etc.) to utilise any opportunities available to them.
Students are supported in school with weekly drop in sessions where they will be able to meet with a designated member of staff, to discuss any aspect of the process and gain assistance. Students have been issued with a comprehensive booklet, including guidance on how to approach employers, letter and CV templates and what to do once a placement is offered.
PLEASE NOTE THAT HEALTH AND SAFETY CHECKS ARE CONDUCTED BY SOUTHWARK EDUCATION AND BUSINESS ALLIANCE (EBA) ON EVERY WORK PLACEMENT THAT PUPILS FIND.