Work Experience |
"Find your passion and your success will follow"
Work Experience is an incredibly valuable programme, where students are given a wonderful opportunity to gain an insight into their chosen or potential career path, and into the world of work. The programme helps students build and develop their employability skills, gain essential first-hand experience, and stand out in their applications to 6th Forms, Colleges, Universities, and to potential Employers.
We are fully committed to supporting your child through this programme, but equally their commitment is essential. Your child will be expected to contact and arrange their own placement and secure their own work experience opportunity. Students will be representing their academy, so we expect the usual high standards from them all. Employers must be contacted in both a professional and respectful manner.
Research has shown that young people are more likely to be successful in finding employment when they have a proven track record of work experience. Taking part in the Work Experience Programme shows motivation and interest. Sometimes, work experience proves that the job or industry is not for you, this is good as you have tried it, identified skills that you need, and learned what you enjoy doing and what you don’t enjoy doing. It is also about networking and possibly building up contacts for the future. You never know, it might lead to future employment or recommendations.
Your child should now be thinking about, and starting to arrange their own work experience placement for our programme taking place week commencing Monday the 7th July 2025. They should be putting together ideas, thinking about their interests and contemplating exactly what they hope to gain from their placement.
To help assist your child with their journey, we are pleased to be able to give them access to the new EBL Database ‘Grofar’ . This database contains the details of many employers who have offered work experience placements in the past.
Your child will be receiving an invitation to the Grofar database, accessing this system using their school email address or the username provided in the invitation to gain access to the same.
It is important that students contact employers themselves by either phone, letter, or email, as this is all part of their experience and builds on their communication skills. Students will usually be expected to write a letter of application and send a CV along with it. Do not forget there may well be other Schools trying to arrange their work experience placements too – so remember to stand out in your application and not to leave it too late.
Students must remember to include:
- Which Academy they are from and the contact details
- The name of their Work Experience Co-ordinator (Mrs L Simmelker)
- The dates of their placement (7th – 11th July 2025)
- Their name and contact details
- The reasons for their interest in their chosen placement.
- Anything else that will help them stand out in their application.
All employers must have Employers Liability Insurance in place and be able to provide evidence of this. Without this insurance, the EBL Team will not approve any business. This is to ensure the necessary insurances are in place should anything happen. It is essential your child checks with their employer that they have the relevant insurance in place covering a work experience placement before they submit any placements to the academy for approval.
We work alongside Telford & Wrekin Council’s, Education Business Links Team (EBL), who govern whether students can go out on work experience. The EBL Team ensure businesses offer valuable placements and carry out the required Health and Safety checks ensuring a safe environment is provided to students. The team tell us whether a placement is suitable and decide whether a student can take part in this experience. Any decision made by The EBL Team will be fully supported by the Academy.
It is important that placements are arranged quickly, and that we receive the information as soon as possible. The EBL Team will need to carry out a Health & Safety check well before the start of the placement – usually 3 months before the start date.
It is therefore essential that all placements are arranged and confirmed by the Employer no later than: Friday 16th May 2025. Your child must inform the employer of any medical conditions or any additional requirements they may need during their placement too.
Work experience is a very rewarding opportunity. Students gain new skills and knowledge oof the world of work and we look forward to supporting them through their work experience journey.
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Mrs L Simmelker
Work Experience/Careers Lead
Ercall Wood Academy
Golf Links Lane, Telford, TF1 2DT
Web: www.ercallwood.co.uk
We believe that work experience is important and as such have allocated a school week for this. Students on work experience learn directly from employers and secure their knowledge of what working life is like and what it takes to be employable. It can also help students make decisions about their career in the future (some change their mind having completed work experience). We also run workshops to help with CV building and applications for those students who choice of work experience requires an application form. All young people need to have a work experience placement to help increase their chances of securing the right work or University place once they leave us. Research has shown that students have work place exposure earn up to 18% more than their peers.
Most Companies and Organisations will discuss work experience over the phone. Larger Companies may have a bespoke Work Experience Programme so check websites for details. Initially the easiest way is a phone call so that you can be directed as to whether an application form, letter or CV is required. Some Businesses may want to meet first before offering a placement. Be prepared to make several calls.
Students cannot sell or deliver alcohol, deliver milk or fuel, sell door to door, telephone sales, collect or sort rubbish, work in a commercial kitchen, any job which may cause harm or injury, or any work using dangerous machinery or chemicals.
The school form enables us to ensure that the environment that your son or daughter is entering is safe. It also is an agreement between the employer, the student and the parents. Each have their own responsibilities whilst work experience is taking place.
The form also provides us with a point of contact for the placement allowing us to make a visit or telephone call to ensure that all is going well.
The form also provides us with a point of contact for the placement allowing us to make a visit or telephone call to ensure that all is going well.
In the majority of cases, it does not.
Telford & Wrekin Council have issued guidelines categorising placements into low, medium and high risk. Many large Companies, Schools and Nurseries already have rigorous health and safety checks in place so would be classed as low risk and would not require a check.
Medium risk placements such as those at a hairdresser, warehouse, riding stable or gym may require a visit if they have not hosted a work experience student before or do not employ apprentices.
High risk placements such as those in agriculture or construction would require a visit should they fall into the same category as above.
High risk and some medium risk employers are referred to Shropshire Education Business Link to undertake checks on our behalf.
Telford & Wrekin Council have issued guidelines categorising placements into low, medium and high risk. Many large Companies, Schools and Nurseries already have rigorous health and safety checks in place so would be classed as low risk and would not require a check.
Medium risk placements such as those at a hairdresser, warehouse, riding stable or gym may require a visit if they have not hosted a work experience student before or do not employ apprentices.
High risk placements such as those in agriculture or construction would require a visit should they fall into the same category as above.
High risk and some medium risk employers are referred to Shropshire Education Business Link to undertake checks on our behalf.
If placements involve less than five employees the school has to consider whether a DBS (criminal records check) should be carried out on the employer. If an employer is lone working with a student and they are not a parent/carer, then a check has to be carried out. It is a good idea to discuss this if you are asking (for example) a family friend or relation to offer your child a placement so that they are aware of potential checks that have to take place.
The employer should be informed of any SEND or medical which may affect your child whilst they are on placement. Request a meeting between yourself, your child and the employer to discuss any needs or adjustments that may need to be made.
Once the signed forms are returned and checks are made, we would only advise your son/daughter if there is a problem otherwise their Work Experience Placement can proceed. Work experience is not approved until relevant checks are made.
We actively encourage students to complete work experience but cannot accommodate a week’s work experience at any other time of the year due to the number of missed lessons.
Contact Mrs Hoof - drop in sessions will be held for students to receive help in finding placements. Students can also request a session to help with a CV or Application Form.
It is recommended that students and parents look for placements early. Other schools will have work experience at the same time of year. Some employers have work experience programmes with deadlines for applications – check their website for details.
Mrs L Simmelker
7th - 11th July 2025
Students will be expected to work a normal working day of the Placement Provider.
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