Work Experience

Work experience (or WEX) stands as a vital conduit between classroom learning and the realities of the professional world. It offers students a firsthand look into diverse industries, providing insights into requisite skills and attitudes for successful careers. It encourages personal growth, cultivates essential soft and hard skills, and enhances employability, empowering students to align their education with their passions and career goals. This exposure fosters a responsible and adaptable workforce, ensuring students step into the professional realm with confidence and competence, well-prepared to navigate the demands of their chosen fields. At DHSB, our careers programme delves into the multifaceted benefits of work experience, highlighting its crucial role in shaping the future professionals of our society.

Latest 2024 statistics show that students who take part in 4 work experience placements over Year 10-13 are 86% more likely to be employed.

Work Experience contact email: wex@dhsb.org

WHEN IS WORK EXPERIENCE?

There are three weeks during the school year in which students can complete a Work Experience placement without impacting their curriculum time, they are:

2024/25
WEX2 - June 23 - June 27, 2025 (additional WEX for Year 10 students wishing to do a second placement or, CEW)
WEX3 - July 1 onwards (last contingency date for GCSEs is TBC)

2025/26
WEX1 - November 24 - November 28, 2025 (all Year 10 students expected to participate)
WEX2 - TBC
WEX3 - July 1 onwards (last contingency date for GCSEs is TBC)

• Year 10 students must take part in Work Experience during WEX1, and can do an additional placement in WEX2

• Year 11 students can take part in Work Experience during WEX2 or WEX3

• Year 12/13 students can take part in Work Experience during WEX1 or WEX2

WORK EXPERIENCE PROCESS

Firstly, students must contact employers to see if they will be able to host them for the specified dates. There is a letter/email template here.

Once they have the go ahead from the employer, it's time to fill in Unifrog, using the Placements tool.

The employer then completes their details and uploads their insurance/risk assessment &c. and confirms they will follow our safeguarding policy.

Parents will then receive an email to ask them to confirm they are happy for the process to move on to the final stage, when DHSB will confirm the placement.  And that's it, the process it all complete and the placement is ready to begin on the date agreed.

During the placement, we try to send a member of staff to every placement to check on out students, and then at the end of the placement - the student and the employer complete a review of the week.

We would expect all students to take part in at least one placement between Year 10-11 and again in Year 12 or 13.