It is a legal requirement of all young people to participate in a two week Work Experience and is undertaken in Year 10 at Penketh High School. This year’s Work Experience takes place after the Easter Holidays.

The purpose of this placement is to give young people an experience of the world of work. Some pupils use this to link with future career plans but unrelated experiences are equally valuable as personal development.

Pupils must first apply online to Educational Business Plus (EPB – our insurers). This will be done through school on a secure site and has to be completed by all year 10 pupils by the end of November. Pupils will be given further information on this activity.

There are two ways for pupils to organise their Work Experience:

1. Self Placements

This is where pupils are responsible for organising their own Work Experience. Pupils have been known to organise their Work Experience further than the locality but this is not always desirable, practical and can be very expensive.

A self placement form has to be collected from the Careers office and filled in by employer, parent and pupil and returned to the Careers Department. T his will then be recorded and sent on to EBP who will in time, confirm placement. All self placement forms have to be in before the end of November in order for EBP to accept them.

1. Jobs Book

This is where a number of suitable placements are sent into school in the form of a list from EBP. From my experience, the list is not long and very often covers placements as far as South Warrington, Culcheth, and Lymm. The Jobs Book is expected to be in school early November.

Some students taking JSLA and Health and Social Care studies may wish to use their Work Experience to link with their school work. Students need to discuss this with their subject teachers.

The Armed Forces

Students wishing for an experience with the Armed Forces need to register their name with the Careers Office. This experience is for one week of the Work Experience only (the 12^th – 16^th April 2011). It is residential and pupils have to have an interview. Pupils with asthma are required to have a doctor’s note confirming that they are well enough to participate. Further information regarding this will be given to interested students.

Uniformed Services

Due to recent changes and information received by the Careers Department, there are a few places for work experience with the Police Force and we have been informed that they will not take self placements. Students need to apply through the Police website www.cheshire.police.uk this experience takes place in January and July 2011.

The Fire Service have offered a few one week places, again the week has not yet been confirmed.

Prior to and during the Work Experience, all pupils will receive and use a Work Experience diary. Diaries will be given to them during Learning for Life lessons and will be and integral part of their pre-Work Experience lessons. Pupils will be expected to take it to their Work Placement and will be expected to fill it in during their Work Experience. Many employers will request to see the booklet.

All students will be visited/contacted during their Work Experience by a representative of the school.

It is now in the student’s interest that they engage with the Work Experience process as soon as possible and seek to find a suitable placement.