Work Experience

Yr 11-13 

FE, HE, Work Experience and Careers Guidance DATES FOR YOUR DIARY     2025-26 

Nov 4 Year 12 Parents' Evening

Nov 3-8 Green Careers Week

Nov 27 Life in the Sixth Form (Year 11)

Dec Year 11 apply for Work Experience - (for summer 2026)

Jan 29 Year 11 ALevel Taster day

Jan 14-23  Year 11 Trial exam week 

Feb 3 Year 111 deadline to hand in CV and letter of application  ready for WoW mock interviews (3 March)

Feb 3     DAGS Year 11 Parents’ Evening - 4.15pm

Feb 9        DABS Year 11 Parents’ Evening - 4.15pm

Feb 24  Year 13 Parents' Evening

March 2-6 National Careers Week 

March 3 World of Work WoW Mock interviews for all Year 11

May 1 Deadline for all Year 11 Work Experience Plans to be on Morrisby WEX System

June 23     Year 11 recommended week for Work Experience or once GCSE exams are completed

                        In addition, here's a structured virtual insights programme - Springpod  Virtual Work Experience / Sprints and Subject Spotlights

June/July/Aug     Year 11-12 Work Experience- real / virtual / insight /project (once the exams are completed)

During/after the placements-

The Employer/Student Review - really important for us to quote from when students apply for higher education.

Students have Work Experience Log books and a Digital Diary in the Activities on Morrisby to reflect on their placements.

• Key Information - Planning / Timings

• Recording Work Experience on the Morrisby WEX System

• Steps to a Successful placement

• Common Principles of High Quality Work Placement

• Work Experience ideas and the Inspire Programme at Dame Allan's Junior School

• Yr 11 and Sixth Form Work Placement Expectations, Guidance & Procedures

• Contacts

Work Experience

Yr 11 have been well prepared for Work Experience in careers lessons in school.  They are aware that we can expect a blended approach to Work Experience  - on site placements and some virtual insight. Students can research ideas on the website on Student Portal / My Great Future / Work Experience (student sign in required). 

Recording Work Experience on the Morrisby WEX System

STEP 1- Student

Once your son / daughter has confirmed a placement, they will need to enter the details (gathered on the WEX Placement Information Form) into Morrisby’s Work Experience system. 

STEP 2 Employer

The system will then send the information to the chosen employer for approval, ensuring that all arrangements are properly checked and authorised. 

STEP 3 Parent

After the employer has completed the relevant form, you will receive an email via the Morrisby WEX System (email address will be no-reply@morrisby.com) to allow you to review the placement, add in additional information regarding any medical conditions, if relevant, and authorise the placement. 

Working with parents/family/colleagues

If students are invited to work with family/ parents please complete a Work Experience Placement Form in advance of the placement so that we can update our records. You must of course ensure that the placement is safe for a teenager to work in. Please read- the Government's Health and Safety guidance on placements- 

HSE Work Placement Guide for Parents & Carers

Employers Hosting Work Experience 

Understanding the Legal Requirements

Reviewing placements and Activities

This is the Work Experience Review Form following the placement, and there is a feedback form on Morrisby too.

The following Work Experience log is ready for students to complete on Morrisby-

• Work Experience Student Digital Diary

PLACEMENT REVIEW 

Work Experience Reference Request - Google Form

Work Experience Employer/Student Review (Printable version)

Work Experience Employer/Student Review (Editable version - download this pdf)

Keep in touch about Work Experience plans - wow@dameallans.co.uk 

Most Yr 11 placements will take place after the GCSE exams or within the half term breaks and school holidays. Recommended week- last week of June.

Year 12/13 take place in the holidays where possible.  

Work Experience Timeline -

• Apply for Work Experience in Dec (January onwards will be busy focusing on trial / summer exams)

• Hand in copies of CVs & letters of application by February to prepare for Mock Interview Day (1st week in March)

• Work Experience Clinics - November - March 

• Deadline for Health and Safety check paperwork for Work Experience - May

• Recommended week for Work Experience last week of June

Autumn Term

• Phone/ email the employer/ company to ascertain if they accept work placement students for a few days/week/on site or virtual / project based, and if so, ask for a contact name to write to (preparation of CV and letters of application is in Careers Journey lessons and consultations).

• Write letters of application to/email the employers/companies. Enclose your CV and await replies.

Spring Term/ 10 weeks prior to placement

• Attend interviews (online)  if requested.

• Accept a placement offer if you have been lucky enough to receive one.

• Complete the Work Experience - WEX - Placement Form  and add information to the Morrisby WEX System. 

4 weeks prior to placement

• Students must make contact with the employer a few weeks before the placement to confirm all details with the supervisor.

• Students must ensure they know their travel arrangements to the placement and what the dress code and lunch arrangements are.

Work placement week

• Students attend the work placement week and fill in their Work Placement Student Digital Diary on Morrisby.

• Employers add feedback to Morrisby WEX System or returns Work Placement Employer/ Student Review (forms found at the bottom of this page) on line/post to school or return via student.

Work Placement Form - Student/ parent and employer complete the form to provide Dame Allan's with the information about the placement; provides parental consent for the placement; initiates the Health & Safety assessment; is shared with the employer to ensure that they have all the necessary details.

Work Placement Diary -completed by the student and provides a record of the tasks, activities and what is learnt on placement. Work Experience Diaries and how to write reflectively about your placement. 

Work Placement Employer/ Student Review (forms found at the bottom of this page) is given to both the employer and the student for the employer to provide a brief description of the work undertaken and to rate the student’s performance; for the student to reflect upon what they have gained from the placement.

Work placements allow students to experience the real demands of the working environment, independent from their peers and teachers. The placement needs to:

• • be purposeful, substantial, offer challenge and relevant to a student’s studies and career aspirations.

  • be managed under the direction of a supervisor to ensure the student obtains a genuine learning experience suited to their needs.

  • have a structured plan for the duration of the placement which provides tangible outcomes for the student and employer.

  • focus on the skills required for that occupational sector.

  • have clear roles, responsibilities and expectations for the student and employer.

  • have some form of feedback from the employer based upon the student’s performance.

Dame Allan’s Schools have a duty of care towards our students and also while on work placement during term time. Employers must confirm that the placement is suitable by carrying out their own Health and Safety assessments. Any further formal Health and Safety assessments can be undertaken on request by an external assessment organisation.

We follow the guidelines and regulations as stated in the Health & Safety Executive’s  What the law says about young people at work. This states that students on work experience must be given at least the same health, safety and welfare protection as other employees - HSE- Young people at Work.

Young people will be generally more vulnerable because of their age. It must also be taken into account that they lack the experience and awareness of risks, work knowledge and training and that they are unlikely to be as confident in refusing to do potentially dangerous tasks as an adult employee would be.

HSE Work Placement Guide for Parents & Carers

Employers Hosting Work Experience 

Understanding the Legal Requirements

A Note about Private Contact Details

In Year 11 students are taught skills for life - how to write a formal CV and letter of application. For the purposes of work experience applications, we recommend that they protect their privacy as much as possible:

· Use school e-mail address for applications and initial correspondence.

· Do not include home address as the school email should suffice.

· Do not include Date of Birth on the CV.  Student's age can be included if relevant eg NHS 16+ placements.

Gatsby Benchmark 6: Experiences of the Workplace

· By the age of 16, every pupil should have had at least one experience of a workplace, additional to any part-time jobs they may have.

· By the age of 18, every pupil should have had one further such experience, additional to any part-time jobs they may have.

Gatsby Benchmark 6: Experiences of Workplaces

55. In addition to school-based encounters with employers, pupils should have first-hand experience of the workplace. There is evidence that work experience gives pupils a more realistic idea of the expectations and realities of the workplace. This is particularly valuable for pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds who may not have access to a diverse range of role models.

56. Schools should ensure that by the age of 16, every pupil has at least one experience of a workplace, and one further such experience by the age of 18. Schools should pay particular attention to work placements for pupils with SEND.

“Work experience is a key component of age 16 to 19 student programmes and all students are expected to undertake work experience or some form of work-related training as part of their study programme” (Department for Education advice).

It is the student’s responsibility to find their work placement but we will provide guidance in this process in lessons, consultations and on the student website,  My Great Future.  There are many virtual placements listed in the Work Experience section. Students are encouraged to network with family and friends too. Work Experience Clinics take place each half term to support students further.

Tel: 0191 275 1500

Mrs Whitehouse - Head of Careers

Mrs Rodrigues - Sixth Form and Careers Administrator

wow@dameallans.co.uk