Darrick Wood School

Work Experience

What is Work Experience?

At Darrick Wood School, all Year 12 students are invited to take part in the annual Work Experience Programme. Additionally, all Year 12 students studying a BTEC Level 2 Business course will be encouraged to find a work experience placement in the Spring Term. Work Experience is a programme designed to give young people a better insight into the world of work and to acquaint them with the key skills necessary to succeed in adult working life. Taking part in the work experience programme is an excellent opportunity for students to learn and develop transferrable skills that will benefit them in the future. Work Experience takes place on an employer’s premises in which students carry out particular tasks, more or less as would an employee, but with the emphasis on the learning aspects. Although we recommend that students link work experience placements to future career aspirations, the placement may not necessarily reflect the eventual career choice of the student but should allow a broad experience of the workplace. Students are required to find their own placement. As a minimum requirement, all employers must have valid Employer’s Liability Insurance. Without this, the placement will not be approved by the School under any circumstances. Work experience at Darrick Wood School is supported by Bromley Education Business Partnership (BEBP) who provide guidance and assistance throughout the programme.

Aims of the Work Experience Programme

To give students a practical understanding of the wider society outside school particularly the role of employment and the economy in everyday life and to prepare them for transition from education to employment.
To help students achieve a better understanding of industry including how a business functions, employer expectations and to introduce them to requirements, disciplines and satisfaction for working life.
To give students the opportunity to develop self-confidence and social skills, resilience, enhance general, personal and social development and to encourage them to acquire basic skills in a variety of business related tasks.
To enable them to form relationships outside their immediate social group and to make real life decisions.

Year 12 Work Experience Programme

Monday, 11th July – Friday, 15th July 2022

All Year 12 students are invited to source a one week work experience placement from Monday, 11th July until Friday, 15th July 2022. We recognise that it will be challenging for students to secure a work experience placement given the world of work has not completely returned to normality and therefore this opportunity is optional. If students are unable to secure a placement by the deadlines set out below, they will be expected to attend school as normal.

Students have been briefed during a presentation in registrations, led by Mrs Collier, our Pathways and Work Experience Coordinator and they are aware of their responsibility to source their own work experience placement. Mrs Collier is available for support and guidance and students are aware that they must speak with her to keep her updated with their progress. A link to the presentation has also been shared with students via their school email addresses.

If your child secures a work experience placement, the following forms must be submitted by the deadlines outlined:

The Parent/Carer Consent Form (Click Here) must be submitted as soon as your child has found a placement and no later than Friday, 18th March 2022.
The Placement Information Form (Click Here) must be sent to the Work Experience Employer for completion as soon as they have agreed the placement. The form must then be returned to your child to submit to School no later than Friday, 1st April 2022. Students are encouraged to email this form to the placement to be completed quickly. If Employers are unable to email the form, hard copies can be provided from Mrs Collier’s office to be collected by the Student.

The Notes for Parents/Carers/Employers (Click Here) must also be forwarded with the Placement Information Form to the placement provider.

Students are encouraged to contact Mrs Collier for advice and update her of their progress in finding a work experience placement. It is important that students do this so that we are aware of their individual progress and can update records within the school to allow us to start making basic checks on placements which they may potentially have sourced.