Work Experience

Year 12 Work Experience 2019

Monday, 1st July to Friday, 12th July 2019 (All Year 12)

Monday, 4th February to Friday, 15th February 2019 (Level 2 BTEC Business Students Only)

What is Work Experience?

At Darrick Wood School, all Year 12 students 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 All July Work Experience Only

• Parent/Carer Form – Electronic Form
• Placement Information Form for All Year 12 July Work Experience Only
• Notes for Parents/Carers Employers
• Parent/Carer Information Booklet
• Assembly Notes from Launch Assembly

Level 2 BTEC Work Experience Only (February 2019)

• Parent/Carer Form – Electronic Form
• Placement Information Form for Level 2 BTEC students only
• Notes for Parents/Carers Employers
• Parent/Carer Information Booklet
• Assembly Notes from Launch Class

Please submit the Parent/Carer Form as soon as the placement has been agreed. The last day for accepting the electronic Parent/Carer Form is Friday, 8th February. It is important that as soon as a placement has been agreed, the school are aware and can start making initial pre-placement checks.

When an Employer has agreed a placement with the student, an additional form must be completed by the Employer. The Notes and Guidance sheet must also be sent to them for their reference. This form must be returned to the student to be agreed by them and then submitted to school by Friday, 29th March. Without this form, the placement is not agreed. 

Forms received after the 29th March will only be accepted for placements with valid pre-placement checks in place or placements in mainstream childcare/educational settings. If the placement does not fit this criteria, the forms will be rejected.

After May Half Term, no further requests for work experience of any nature can be authorised and paperwork will not be accepted (unless an Employer has cancelled a student's placement). Students will be expected in school as normal and any absence during work experience weeks will be treated as unauthorised.