Work Experience
What is Work Experience?
Work Experience is a short, exciting period of structured, temporary employment undertaken by students in Year 12. It offers a valuable and realistic glimpse into the professional environments and industries students may wish to explore after their studies.
Year 12 students have 2 weeks designated for work experience in July, but during their time in 6th Form, they can also request up to 3 days a year for absence to participate in work experience, university programmes, and placements.
How does Work Experience help students?
Work Experience empowers students to develop essential employability skills that are highly valued by universities and employers alike, including:
- Communication
- Teamwork
- Use of Information and Communication Technology
- Numeracy
- Problem solving
- Resilience
Students are encouraged to reflect on what they hope to gain from their experience and how it aligns with their interests, future aspirations, and academic commitments. This thoughtful approach helps ensure they choose a placement that offers the most meaningful learning opportunities.
Benefits of Work Experience:
Students who complete a placement enjoy a wide range of personal and professional benefits, such as:
- Discovering whether a potential career path truly suits them
- Engaging with industry professionals and exchanging ideas
- Building valuable networks with future employers
- Experiencing the realities and rewards of working life
- Strengthening their CVs and personal statements
- Standing out in competitive applications
- Applying academic knowledge in real‑world settings
- Developing greater self‑awareness
- Building confidence through collaboration and new challenges
The Process
At St Thomas the Apostle College Sixth Form, we place great importance on nurturing independence and responsibility. For this reason, students are encouraged to take the initiative in sourcing their own work experience placements.
Students should seek opportunities that provide a genuine insight into a field they may wish to pursue in the future, while remaining open-minded, as work experience is also a chance to explore unfamiliar fields.
Although placements are largely self‑found, we support students by helping them create CVs and cover letters, and by sharing opportunities whenever possible.