Work Experience
Year 10 and Year 12 students are offered the opportunity to benefit from a valuable work experience programme at GMS
Year 10 Work Experience
Unifrog
Work Experience
At Great Marlow School we believe in the importance of work experience as a vital introduction to the world of work. We expect this experience to contribute positively to students’ later career and educational outcomes. Research has shown work experience to have a positive impact on employability skills, motivation in education, career-decision making and knowledge of the world of work.
Practical, first-hand experience can provide students with a competitive advantage in the labour market, or enhance their university, apprenticeship and job applications, particularly for professional or vocational degree programmes.
Work Experience in Schools is also a Key Government Policy
At GMS Year 10 and Year 12 students are offered the opportunity to benefit from a valuable work experience programme, providing first-hand insight into the professional world. This opportunity allows them to explore potential career paths and identify the essential skills needed for future success.
What Kind of Work Experience?
For students in Year 10, GMS considers this to be too early for them to have made meaningful career choices and they are too young to access many employment sectors due to age related health and safety considerations.
At this stage the aim is to provide an “experience of work” in general terms, for example: working with adults, time keeping, team working and problem solving. GMS wishes to offer a ‘general taste of the world of work’ rather than necessarily following a specific career aspiration.
GMS encourages students in Year 12 to look closely at more specific areas of vocational interest. Although it is still important even at this stage to remember it is just as valuable to rule things out as it is to rule them in.
Work Experience Process
Unifrog is the placements tool used to administer the work experience process.
Employers, parents and carers do not need to have access to Unifrog to manage this process as all forms are sent to email addresses.
Students are required to secure a placement first and enter the details on Unifrog. The process is automated to collect all the necessary information. Once the forms are all completed the school will make the necessary checks and, if satisfactory, the placement will be approved.
Year 10 and 12 Work Experience
Why are students given a work experience opportunity?
GMS believes in the value of work experience because, firstly, it offers a unique opportunity to experience a workplace environment that could impact on a career choice. Secondly, students can reference the work placement when applying for UCAS, apprenticeships and jobs. Thirdly, some placements may, and frequently do, lead to part-time employment.
How are the work placements organised?
To give students ownership of their placement, they arrange a place of work. They are expected to pay travel costs, which must be factored into their decision. Often a CV and an interview are required; this is good practice and the school encourages employers to do this. To support students through the process there is a section in The Next Steps Guide available on the website, under the Sixth Form –> Sixth Form Publications page.
What happens when a suitable placement has been found?
Once students have secured their placement, the contact name, address, telephone number and email address is given to their tutor. The details are verified by the staff of GMS, so that visits or telephone conversations can take place during work experience week.
How can parents and carers help?
Have a conversation with your child about their interests. Since you know them better that anyone, you will be able to advise them and encourage them to be realistic about their capabilities, but at the same time try not to impose your own preferences on them – this is about their wishes.
Support your child with making phone calls and help them to record who they have spoken to and what the result was – do they need to follow up or call again?
Please make sure your child knows what they will be doing on the placement. Sometimes students have unrealistic expectations of what they will be able to do and are disappointed – for example a hairdresser will not be letting them cut clients’ hair!
Please make sure your child knows they can travel to the placement: will they have a lift, or do they need to know about bus routes and where to go themselves?