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Handbook
For Students and Parents
Year 12
Work Experience Week
1st Week of July 2018
St Augustine’s Catholic High School 6th Form
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Contents
Introduction and Benefits of Work Experience Pg 3-4
Procedures and Finding a Placement Pg 5-6
Pre Placement Information Pg 7-8
During and After your Placement – Important Dates Pg 9-10
Sample CV Pg 11
Sample Letter Pg 12
Consent Form Pg 13
Placement Details Pg 15
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Introduction and benefits of work experience
Yr12 work experience is an integral part of student’s entitlement to careers
education.
The key aim is to prepare our students for working life. Through the work
experience we expect our students to enhance their knowledge of the world
of work and their own employability skills.
It is envisaged that the students on completion of their work experience will:
Have developed their employability and key skills
Be able to self-evaluate and evidence skills through the completion of a
work experience diary
Be more confident in presenting themselves in a range of different
situations
Learn how to work co-operatively with a range of different people
Be clearer about their career aim and career planning by gaining an
insight into the industry sector
Learn how to manage praise and criticise in a positive way and take
responsibility
Gain experiences that are necessary and an entry requirement for
certain post 18 options in addition to gain references.
This is the first year that we have introduced a work experience week for
Yr12 and this is in response to many employers and education institutions who
have voiced concerns about the level of employability skills of many young
people.
Work experience takes a lot of planning and organisation so we are starting
with a pilot project and are offering 20 organised work experience placements
(with the priority being to those students who are currently taking the
Barclays Life Skills workshops as part of the elective programme). However,
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we are also supporting and encouraging students to find their own work
experience placements.
Work experience week will take place 1st Week of July but students can also
organise their own experience over the holiday period. Occasionally a
placement may only be possible to organise outside of that week but you will
need to let Sally Beach (Careers Advisor) know and ask for permission from
Mrs Paddock. This type of work experience must relate your career aim. ie:
NHS taster days.
Due to Health and Safety regulations some industries/employers are unsuitable
and may not be approved. The school has a duty of care to each student and
therefore we want to ensure our students safety whist out on placement, so if
we feel the placement is high risk we will carry out the necessary risk
assessments and the placement must be approved before we can agree for the
placement to go ahead.
All employers will be required to complete the placement details
form and produce a certificate of liability insurance before the
placement can commence.
It is also important that the employer is made aware of any medical factors
which may affect the student’s health, safety and welfare.
Parental Consent
For each student attending work experience there must be consent
gained from a parent or carer. There is the option to either:
Complete and return a consent form (page 13) to Sally Beach
Careers Adviser OR
Give consent via ParentPay.
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Procedures and Finding a Placement
We are hoping to secure 20 work experience placements, however we are
also encouraging students to source their own placements which will help
teach them the essential skills for the future. Students will quite often have
their own network of contacts through family and friends and we will actively
encourage and support those students who choose to take this route.
You need to decide what it is you would like to do and how it fits in with your
career aim. The experience should ideally reflect your career plans, however
most work experiences will still provide you with essential employability skills.
You will need to search for possible placements using resources such as: The
Yellow Pages, Telephone Directories and the internet. You will probably need
to contact a number of employers before you are successful, and not all
employers will respond immediately, so it’s worth contacting them again after
about two weeks. Don’t sit and wait for a response - you will need to make
several applications!
Occasionally you may find some vacancies on the Worcestershire County
Council work experience portal and use all the volunteering websites such as:
Do.it.org, Time Bank and other larger voluntary and charity organisations such
as Barnados, World Wildlife Trust and National Citizenship Service etc.
Once you have found companies you are interested in you can then contact
the employer and send a cover letter, CV, email or make a phone call. If you
need help with this come and see me (Sally Beach) in school or drop me an
email. Don’t forget to consider travel arrangements.
You will then need to speak to myself (Sally Beach) directly and provide me
with details of the placement and contact details so I can then contact the
employer and find out more information and confirm the placement.
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I will also talk to them about risk assessments, consent and liability insurance.
With regards to placements organised directly by the school these will be
reserved for those on the Barclays Life skills course and those on vocational
courses. I will check with these students initially and then source appropriate
placements where I can but we would still encourage these students to still try
and source their own placements as a back-up. The procedures stated above
will still apply.
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Pre Placement Information
Once you have identified where you would like to go for your work
experience you will then need the address and telephone number and
you should make contact with your chosen company using one of the
following methods:
Visit the premises
Write letter/CV
Make a phone call
Visit to Premises
If you decide to visit it’s a good idea to take your CV with you and a
cover letter and leave it with the company. Always make a good
impression and present yourself in a positive way and appropriate dress
code.
Take the placement details form with you for the employer to complete
with you and inform them the school will be contacting them shortly.
If you have to visit during school hours you must gain permission first.
Write a letter
Write a letter of introduction thanking the company for giving you the
opportunity and state why you have chosen the company. Enclose your
CV and state that the school will be contacting them shortly to confirm
details of the placement. If possible try and get the placement details
form completed
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Make a phone call
If you are calling the company direct have a pen and paper handy and any
questions you want to ask including the placement details form. Thank
them for the opportunity and offer to send them your CV. They may
invite you for an informal interview. Let them know the school will be
contacting them shortly to confirm the placement
Once you are sure you have the placement it is essential to get the
appropriate forms completed and let me know ASAP so appropriate
checks can be completed before you go.
If you are lucky enough to gain more than one placement remember to
contact the company you are turning down as a matter of courtesy and
politely decline. Once again let myself (Sally Beach) know as I may be
able to place someone else.
Once you have confirmation of your placement it is really important that
you honour that commitment. Good placements are scarce and very
competitive and employers are very busy people and taking time out to
offer you the opportunity so please respect this.
Before You Go
At least 2 weeks before you start ensure: You remind the placement
you will be attending. Find out about times/meal arrangements /Dress
code/who to report to/take your diary and read through health and
safety information
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During and After Your placement- Important Dates
Before you do, you will be given a diary to complete whilst you are on
placement.
You will be expected to:
Have a 100% attendance. If you are unwell you should phone both
school and your placement
Be punctual and reliable
Demonstrate high standards of manners and politeness at all times
Wear appropriate clothing according to the company dress code
Show a willingness to contribute fully as a team member
Ensure that you listen to instructions carry then out if necessary or ask
to have them repeated. If you don’t understand just say so.
Follow company rules and policies at all times and stay safe
If in doubt ask someone and if you are finding you haven’t enough to do
ask someone if you can help. Take the initiative
Complete your diary and contact the school if you have any
concerns and worries,
At some point in the week someone from the school will either phone
or drop in and see how you are getting on
On Completion
Remember to say thank you and also write a letter to the company
Completed all sections of your diary
Discuss what you have leaned with the school, friends and family
Return your diary to me and feedback about your experience.
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Important dates To Remember
November - School to begin the process of sourcing placements.
Students also encouraged to start the process. Attend careers
appointment for help with your career decision making and to support
you with sourcing work experience and or volunteering and taster days
February - Work experience Briefing - ALL year 12 Students to
start sourcing placements and talk through procedures. Students to
arrange contact with placement.
Ongoing- Inform Sally Beach Careers Adviser once you have a
placement confirmed and complete appropriate paperwork and consent
forms
June - Contact placements to remind them of your placement start date
and ask any further questions. Pick up your diary and read through
health and safety sections
1st Week of July- Work experience week
On completion write to thank employers.
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NAME FILL IN
ADDRESS FILL IN
TELEPHONE FILL IN
EMAIL FILL IN
DATE OF BIRTH FILL IN
CURRENT SCHOOL Saint Augustine’s High School & Sixth Form
Stonepits Lane,
Hunt End,
Redditch
B97 5LX
Tel: 01527 550400
Fax: 01527 550230
Email: [email protected]
GCSE’S AND EXPECTED A-LEVEL GRADES
List all subjects studied and grades achieved at GCSE and expected at A-Level.
ACHIEVEMENTS
Here you can mention if you are a Prefect, part of Student Counsel, or gained any awards
such as Duke of Edinburgh. List if you have had any success raising money for charity etc.
EMPLOYMENT
If you have been working part-time, then put down the job title plus the name of the
company. Include the dates you were employed and a brief description of the responsibilities
you carried out. If you have not worked, do not include this section.
HOBBIES AND ITEREST
Don’t forget to mention things you are involved in outside of school e.g. guides, scouts,
clubs etc.
REFEREES
You need to give details of two people who know you, but out of courtesy you must ask
them first. For example, you can use your employer if you work part-time or your Head of
Year or Form Tutor. You cannot use relatives. List their name, address and telephone
number.
Sample
CV
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Home Address
Hunt End
Redditch
Postcode
Date
Contact Person
Contact Address
Dear Sir/Madam,
Re: Work Experience Week
I am a Year 12 student at Saint Augustine’s Sixth Form, Redditch. The school has a
work experience programme and I am writing to enquire about the possibility of a
placement with you at your company/shop/school/factory on the above dates when I
will be aged 16/17.
(New paragraph) Write about the subjects you are studying and your interests.
(Next paragraph) I would really like the opportunity to experience working within
your company. (Explain reasons why).
I very much hope that you are able to offer me a placement.
Please find enclosed a copy of my CV for your information and I look forward to
hearing from you soon.
Yours faithfully (if addressed to Sir/Madam)
Yours sincerely (if addressed to the name of the person)
Sample Letter
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Work Experience Consent form
** CONSENT CAN ALSO BE GIVEN ON PARENTPAY FROM 2019. **
Full Name of Student ………………………………… Form……… D.O.B …………
As parent/Guardian of the student named above I can confirm that I have read through the
handbook along with my son/daughter and we understand the conditions set out. I can
confirm that:
My son/daughter will be taking part in the scheme either on work experience week
or an agreed alternative time and will observe all the conditions lay down by the
school and the placement organisation , particularly with regard to health safety and
security
I will prepare my son/daughter for travel to and from the placement and understand
that it is advisable to take out personal accident insurance for him/her to cover their
travel to and from their placement.
My son/daughter understands that any information that he/she is exposed to when
on placement will be treated as confidential
My son/daughter understands that whilst on placement he/she is representing the
school and will behave appropriately.
My son/daughter will telephone both the employer and the school id he/she is absent
due to sickness/Doctor/Dentist/hospital appointments etc.
NB If either employer or the school is not informed of any non-
attendance whatsoever this will be recorded as “unauthorised absence”
Please indicate below any known medical condition that your son/daughter has
including allergies that an employer may need to know for health and safety
reasons.
………………………………………………………………………………………….………
………………………..…………………………………………………………………………
Parent/guardian Signature …………………………… Date ………………….
Student Signature …………………………… Date ………………….
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Placement Details
Student Name …………………………
Form ………………
I have secured a work placement/volunteer opportunity/taster session
with the following company for Date …………………………………….
Name of company
Full postal address including
postcode
Contact name and contact
details
Nature Of Business
Eg. Engineering,
Construction,
Main Duties to be completed
By Student
Please attach a copy of Liability insurance and any risk assessments carried out
TO BE COMPLETED AND RETURNED ASAP TO-
Sally Beach Careers Adviser
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Sally Beach, Independent Careers Advisor
01527 550400 Ext 276
Miss Klatt, Student Support Officer
01527 550400 Ext 248
Mrs Paddock, Head of KS5
01527 550400 Ext 229
Mrs Passalacqua, Deputy Head of KS5
01527 550400 Ext 210
Ms Mason, Head of Year 12
01527 550400 Ext 230
