1. The John Bentley School
Y12/13 Parents Forum
Work Experience
September 2014

2. What is Work Experience?
Work experience is central to work related learning and preparing students for adult life.
Work experience provides opportunities for learning about the skills and personal qualities, careers, roles and structures of the workplace organisation.

3. Why take part in work experience?
Work experience is a vital insight into the “world of work.”
At post-16 level it provides valuable experiences to bolster future applications
Work experience increases the employability of students
Students can often be offered further opportunities following on from their work experience.
Students develop and learn new key skills that are essential in the working environment.
Students can see how raising their achievement can “allow them to go anywhere.”
Students can use the opportunities to network and make future career contacts.

4. Benefits of Work Experience for Students
To raise levels of achievement and motivation in pupils.
To encourage creativity, enterprise and entrepreneurial skills.
To help pupils make informed choices about further education, training and employment.
To give students first hand experience of the work place.

5. Benefits of Work Experience for Students
To increase self esteem and motivation.
To encourage them to make informed choices about future career decisions.
To raise employment opportunities in the future
To add further experiences and skills to CV’s and applications whether for Uni, Employment, Colleges or apprenticeships.

6. Facts!
Recent research shows that good exam results are not enough to secure school leavers a well paid job
Young people can earn an extra £1,000 a year in their first job if they have relevant work experience.
The survey of employers found that 90% said that relevant work experience was an important part of a CV.
13% said they would not interview a candidate without it.
Bath University have said that they do not look at personal statements unless it shows relevant work experience at both pre-16 and post-16 level.

7. Changes for Work Experience
The Government funding for work experience has been cut.
JBS see work experience as a vital part of a students development and preparation for future life.
JBS have agreed to pay the basic cost which will be approximately £33 per student for this year. .

8. Possible costs to parents
£20 Late fee for missing the paperwork deadline (you will be pre-warned when this is approaching)
£25 fee for placements outside of Careers South West remit.
No charge for a placement cancelled by the employer.
£20 cancellation fee if cancelled by student after the placement is secured.

9. Preparing for work experience
The work experience process begins now. Placements need to be organised before we break up for Christmas.
Students will be finding their placement for 6th July – 10th July 2015.
All students will organise their placements via Private Arrangement. (Students will have access to a database of companies contact details).
This means that all liaison between the employer and the student is done through the student.

10. The Process: Read through all of the information given.
Consider in what field they may wish to find a placement – Y12s should look to find something that relates to their future career aspirations or if unsure, links into a subject they are enjoying studying.
Once a student has decided what type of placement they would like, they need to locate companies who can provide this type of employment and make contact.
PLEASE TAKE INTO ACCOUNT TRANSPORT ARRANGEMENTS AND COSTS WHEN CONSIDERING PLACEMENTS.
We encourage our year 12 students to apply for a placement with a wider business district e.g. Bath, Bristol, Swindon to gain a broader experience of the business world.

11. The Process…..
Students should send letters of applications to several companies to give them the best chance of securing a placement. They will be covering this work within their tutor lessons.
If you have not heard back within 2-3 weeks please call the company to follow it up.
Employers must hold valid Employer’s Liability Insurance to be able to take students regardless of any family connections. If a placement is submitted without this it will be rejected and students will not be allowed to go.

12. The Process
Once a placement is secured the work placement form will need to be given to the employer for completion.
Once the employer has completed their section, both students and parents must sign the form and complete student details at the top.
This must be returned to Miss Graham by Friday 19th December Careers South West will check health and safety of placement as well as required insurances.

13. Private Arrangement Form

14. Where can your child go?
Anywhere that they like, so long as the placement has Employer’s Liability Insurance, it is related to their future career aspirations or subject studied.
If your child wishes to go outside of Wiltshire for a work experience please phone Miss Graham to discuss as it may incur a charge.
We would encourage students to go to a work placement where there are no family links to gain the most ‘real’ experience of work.
JBS do not allow students to go back to their old primary school unless there are extenuating circumstances.

15. Restrictive Placements
These placements are very popular.
Vets
Medical placements
Travel assistants
Placements within Calne.
Childcare
Army
RAF
Pharmacy assistants
Sport
Theatres/Performing arts

16. Restrictive Placements
Unfortunately the services below do not take part in work experience.
Wiltshire Police (other forces do)
Some Hospitals
Fire
Ambulance
RAF Lyneham has now ceased all work experience programmes.
PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT THESE REQUESTING PLACEMENTS.

17. Veryan Online

18. Veryan Online
Veryan Online is an online database of companies who have accepted work experience students in the past.
All students will have access to this database and it will list contact names, phone numbers and addresses.
Contacting a company from Veryan is not a guarantee of a placement – it is a useful starting point.

19. The role of Careers South West
Who are Careers South West? Why do they get involved? What do they do?

20. What can Parents do to help?
Discuss possible work placements with your child.
Use connections that you have to find suitable placements.
Support your child with the placement they make.
Don’t choose the easy option! Find out what might be of real interest & seek assistance from Miss Graham if necessary.
Meet the deadline for Private Arrangements Forms.
Encourage your child to contact employer before placement.
Keep JBS up to date with information that could affect your child’s placement.

21. If a placement does fall through…
It is a difficult time for employers, companies are struggling and some students may lose a placement.
We will inform you as soon as we are aware.
We will work hard to find another suitable placement for your child.
Keep in mind an “emergency back up plan”. (please be aware that back up plans may also need to be checked and so should be put in place before the deadlines)

22. Work experience July 2014
“She was a credit to the school. She worked well as part of the team and was able to adapt her approach depending on the age group she was with.”
“I would happily employ him…his interpersonal skills and pleasant and endearing personality will be attractive to most, if not all future employers. I wish him well.”
“very enthusiastic and hard working….I have no doubt that he will become a skilled tradesman with the right guidance and further education….I have spoken to him about the possibility of him coming to work for us in the future and doing an apprenticeship.”
“a great help to the workshop team…he has since been offered a part-time job with the company.”
“She showed a real interest in accountancy and we hope she goes on to where she wants to be when she leaves school….An excellent student.”

23. Dates for diary.
Private Arrangement form to be handed in by Friday 19th December 2014.
Any paperwork received after this date is likely to incur a late fee and there is no guarantee that placements will be approved.
All students to have contacted employer by Friday May 22nd 2015 to finalise arrangements.
Work experience begins 6th July 2015.