Work Experience
Year 12 Work Experience Option
Year 12 students can choose work experience as one of their four A level option choices. Our aim is to place students in a placement related to their career aspirations. We work with the student to source an appropriate employer who will provide a suitable real-life placement doing meaningful work which provides an insight into that career. We manage a block of time for the student to attend a regular placement in the community. Being adaptable and changing to a new situation is a key attribute for the workplace therefore we are developing a quality offer which will also include virtual work experience programmes and online short courses to enhance their employability skills.
Year 12 Health & Social Care Work Experience
As part of their Level 3 BTEC, Health & Social Care students undertake a short block of work experience linked to this course. Through the placement, students can put the theory learnt in the classroom into practice in a work place setting. We work with our local Business Enterprise Partners in the care, voluntary and education sectors to source a suitable placement. Again, this may be supplemented with online employer- led presentations, courses and virtual work experience. The Careers Team will work with each student establishing their interests and construct a bespoke package which can change over the course of the year.
Year 10 & 12 Challenge & Celebration Week
Year 10 work experience reflects the “Tie Values” held by the year group including leadership, dedication and taking calculated risks. We want students to start going beyond their comfort zone, allowing them to grow as an individual and prepare for the world beyond IGS. Their work experience in the final week of the summer term is an integral part of their World of Work curriculum, undertaking preparation in Citizenship lessons, PBT sessions and assemblies with a dedicated team to support them in the lead up to this.
Year 12 have a wide choice of activities available in Challenge & Celebration Week, including the opportunity of completing a week-long work experience placement. By this stage, students usually have an idea of what area they would like to study or pursue as a post-18 pathway and this placement is the chance to experience the workplace firsthand.
Mock Interviews
It is only natural for young people to feel unsettled about starting a career amid current circumstances and while the nation plans for recovery. Young people can be reassured that a period of renewal across the jobs market can offer a unique opportunity to develop and showcase their talent to employers.
Our new way of working in school means traditional face to face interviews will, for the time being, be replaced with a 1:1 virtual Microsoft Teams meeting. This embraces new technology, as this method of interview is highly likely to form an integral part of their future working life. It will provide an excellent practice opportunity to maximise their chance of success when they undertake a ‘real’ interview.
The Careers Team are developing a new programme of virtual Mock Interviews for students, thereby continuing to provide this very valuable experience for them.
Further resources and information will be available to students on Showbie in the Personal Development Folder, ‘Next Steps’. Codes will be made available to students via email and in PBT and Citizenship lessons as necessary.
Details will follow once finalised, however if you would like to offer your services or ideas for virtual Mock Interviews, please email careers@ilkleygs.co.uk
