Work Experience
Work Experience is in Year 10. Year 10 Work Experience will occur on the week beginning 21-25 October 2013.
For those who were unable to make the Information Evening on Wednesday 8 May please read Mr Parker's presentation: CLICK HERE
IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO REMEMBER - If you are arranging your OWN PLACEMENT then he would like students to bring the three key pieces of information: Employer’s name, contact name (very important) and contact phone number, on a named piece paper directly to him as soon as the placement has been fully agreed. He will then exchange this information for the student’s PIN card so that students can then enter the details on to the Webview system. This can take place any time from now on and must be completed by the 24 May for those placement outside Kent/Medway, and by 1 July for those within Kent/Medway.
Frequently asked questions:
- What is work-related learning?
- Is work experience compulsory?
- Why is work experience done in Year 10?
- Who organises the work experience placements?
- Do students and parents get a say in what placements are offered?
- Can parents and students organise their own work experience placements?
- When are parents and students notified of their placements?
- What should I do if my son doesn't like the placement he has been offered?
- Are placements health and safety checked?
- What should I do if my son is ill on one or more days of work experience week?
- What should I do if my son is sent home from the placement?
- Will my son be visited at his placement by someone from the school?
- What is the Work Experience Diary?
- How is excellent performance during the placement recognised?
- My son gets free school meals - will a free lunch be provided at the placement?
- My son gets a free bus pass - will this be valid for travel to and from the placement?
- What do I do if I have a query?
What is work-related learning?
It is planned activity which uses the context of work to develop skills, knowledge and understanding which will be useful in working life.
Is work experience compulsory?
As of September 2012, the school is no longer legally required to deliver work-related learning during KS4. The school has decided to continue to deliver work experience in Year 10.Why is work experience done in Year 10?
Work Experience can only take place during the last two years of compulsory school: Years 10 & 11. Year 10 is chosen to minimise disruption to exam preparations in Year 11.
Who organises the work experience placements?
The Medway Business Education Partnership (MEBP) organise work experience placements on behalf of the school. Students and parents can organise their own placements, but they must be subject to MEBP’s Health & Safety checks.
Can parents and students organise their own work experience placements?
Yes. Some students and parents organise their own placements, but they must be subject to MEBP’s Health & Safety checks. Self-organised placements outside of Kent must be entered on to MEBP’s Webview system by 24th May 2013, those inside Kent & Medway by 1st July 2013.
When are parents and students notified of their placements?
TBA
Do students get a choice of placements?
Yes, they can make up to four selections in order of preference. Almost all students will be allocated one of these, depending on availability. The only problems that might arise are when the selected placement falls through for an unforeseen reason and the other choices are already taken – but this is a rare occurrence.
What should I do of my son doesn’t like the placement he has been offered?
We encourage students to stick to what they are offered. We believe that students won’t know what a placement has to offer unless they give it a go. The idea is to get an experience of a work place and the people within it, not necessarily to get the experience to kick-start a future career. They are likely to learn just as much from a placement that is a little outside their expectations and comfort zone, as from one within. If students are adamant that their placement is unsuitable then please email the school on office@sjwms.sch.uk. The earlier this is done, the more likely it is that MEBP can do something about it. If it is left until the last minute there may be nothing that can be done.
Are placements health and safety checked?
Yes. All work places and employers are checked by MEBP. If you organise your own placement, these must also be checked by MEBP staff, which is why the deadline for organising your own placement is 24th May for those placements outside Kent and 1st July for those within Kent/Medway.
What should I do if my son is ill on one or more days of work experience week?
Make two phone calls. Ring the school and the employer. The call to the school allows us to keep a record of where children are because legally students are still involved in a school activity on work experience. The call to the employer maintains good working relationships between your son, the school, the employer and MEBP.
What should I do if my son is sent home from the placement?
Contact the school immediately and the school will contact MEBP. Legally students are still involved in a school activity on work experience.
Will my son be visited at his placement by someone from the school?
The school makes a considerable effort to send staff to every local placement. This is not always possible, depending on the availability of staff during the school day and the location of some placements. In such cases a phone call will be made to the placement.
What is the Work Experience Diary?
Part of the students’ work experience commitment is that they are required to maintain a diary to record their activities and experiences, as well as the development of certain key skills. We require this record to be completed shortly after the end of the placement.
How is excellent performance during the placement recognised?
A work experience certificate is issued to exceptional students. To receive this, students must first let employers and the school know that this is something they are interested in, and then they must complete an a short written assignment, then there are staff interviews and more evidence is required.
My son gets free school meals – will a free lunch be provided at the placement?
No – your son may need to bring a packed lunch, unless the employer says otherwise.
My son gets a free bus pass – will this be valid for travel to and from the placement?
No. It is parents’ responsibility to get their son’s to and from placements.
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