St Hilda’s College Work Experience

 

During the summer term, all Year 12 college students are required to attend a one-week work experience placement. All college students are required to find their own placements; this ensures that they have a worthwhile and meaningful experience.

It is best if students complete their work experience in the field that they wish to pursue their future career. However, this is not essential. BTEC students need to ensure that their placements are meaningful to their chosen vocational subject.

Work experience provide students with a taster of the world of work; through interviews, applications, time keeping, health and safety and much more.

 

The purpose of work experience for the student is to:

• Develop their career ideas;
• Build their confidence and self-esteem;
• Enhance their knowledge and skills; and
• Complement their academic and vocational courses in school.

The process of organising the placements normally starts in November/ December with an assembly. The early time frame is to give students enough time to contact potential employers.   College students will attend their placement during the summer term.

All students need to ask their employer to complete the own placement form and return it to Miss McDonald (College Manager) in the 6th form office, and a copy of the ‘Employers Liability Compulsory Insurance document’ or you will not be able to attend the placement.

 

Preparation for Work Placement

Decide on the type of work you would like to do.

Be related to an idea for a future career or just an area of work that you would like to experience. All work experience can be equally valuable providing it will give you a good opportunity to develop your Employability Skills.

 

Look for a placement by asking your parents or carers, relations and friends, if they know anyone doing the type of work that you are interested in.

You can also ask your tutor and staff at college, look at advertisements in newspapers and magazines, enquire at customer service desks, and look at shop fronts and businesses in your home area and on the way to college, research in libraries and on the internet.

 

Discuss your ideas with your parents or carers and tutor.

You should not arrange a placement where you will be working closely with a parent or relative or where you already have a part time or holiday job. It is important that Work Experience is a ‘new challenge’ in terms of people and environment.

 

Consider the geographical location.

You need to take into account where you live, what transport links are available and how long will the travel times be from your home to your placement.

 

Contact the company or organisation and ask if they are prepared to accept you for Work Placement.

This can be done by telephone, personal visit or letter. Make sure that you know the dates of your placement and advise the company of these. Think about why you would like to do work experience within that organisation and remember to be enthusiastic in your communication. A copy of your CV should be taken when making a visit or enclosed with your letter when applying to the company.

 

Once you have confirmed a placement, you should complete an Own Placement Form downloaded from Student Shared; Work Placement Year 12.

Send or take it to the company or organisation. The form must be completed and signed by the employer to confirm that they agree to you doing work experience within their organisation.

 

The Company must have Employers’ Liability Compulsory Insurance otherwise; you will not be able to go there for Work Placement.

The policy number and expiry date will need to be recorded on the Own Placement Form.

 

The completed form should be handed to Miss McDonald before the deadline date given.

Your placement will then be checked for suitability.

 

Procedure for Work Experience:

Parents sent confirmation notice of work placement during 4th -8th July 2022.

Follow the preparation for work placement guidance (see above).

Work placement booklet sent out to all Year 12 Students – 31st January 2022.

Take own Work Experience Agreement form to the employer for them to complete.

Complete the student and parents’ section of the work experience agreement form with the Employers Liability Compulsory Insurance documents to Miss Shaw or Miss McDonald by Monday 7th June 2022 – electronic copies are available via student shared – Year 12 – Work placement 2022 .

Any students who have failed to return the necessary paperwork on time will not be allowed to go on work placement and will spend the week in full uniform at school.

 

To view the letter to parents, please click here.

Pupils can print out their Work Experience Agreement form from this page, please click here.

To view the Work Experience Student Handbook 2022, please click here.