Work Related Learning
All young people need work related learning as an essential part of full preparation for adult life in which they will contribute to the nation’s economic well-being and prosperity.
There is a statutory requirement on schools to include work related learning within the curriculum at Key Stage 4 (years 10 and 11) for all 14 and 16 years old students.
Work related learning is defined as “a planned activity that uses the context of work to develop knowledge skills and understanding useful for work”.
The statutory requirement for schools for all students at Key Stage 4 is:
- Learn through work, where students learn directly from experience of work, for example work experience or part time jobs.
- Learn about work where students develop knowledge and understanding of work and enterprise, for example through vocational courses and careers education.
- Learn for work by developing skills for enterprise and employability, for example work simulations, mock interviews.
There is a national entitlement for all young people to have work experience and enterprise education. This facility relies heavily on the good will of employers.
Types of Work Experience
Work experience is defined as “ a placement on employer’s premises in which a young person carries out particular task or duty, more or less as would an employee, but with the emphasis on the learning aspects of the experience”. (DfES 2002)
Block Work Experience
Traditionally schools and employers have provided either a one week or two week block work experience for students aged 14 or 16 years of age. This type of work experience provides opportunities for students in many ways, including satisfying the National curriculum. To complete the work related learning syllabus students have to complete nine elements that include:
- Recognise, develop and apply their skills for enterprise and employability
- Use their experience of work to extend their understanding of work
- Learn about the way business operates, working roles and conditions, the rights and responsibilities in the work place
- Develop an awareness of the extent and diversity of local and national employment opportunities
- Relate their own abilities, attributes and achievements to career intentions and make informed choices on alternatives
- Undertake tasks and activities set in work contexts
- Learn from contact with personnel from different employment sectors
- Learn about working practices and environments
- Engage with ideas, challenges and applications from the business world.
In addition to this, new qualifications in work experience are now available including OCR accredited qualification “Preparation for Employment” and NCFE which is now integrated into most student handbooks.
Extended Work Experience
This experience can be for one, two or three days a week for students of statutory school age. There is still a requirement for all students under sixteen to study core subjects including English and Mathematics.
Extended placements can be from a few weeks to a full year but should be linked to learning and accreditation wherever possible. Examples of curriculum based extended work experience would include Applied GCSE qualifications, Young apprenticeships and Diploma qualifications. At Post 16 students may also be engaged in Diplomas but in addition may follow NVQ accredited courses such as Business Administration.
Other examples of school work related learning programmes can include:
- Enterprise industry days
- Workplace visits
- Work shadowing
- Mock interviews
- E-mentoring and Business mentoring
- Work simulations
Work experience is extremely valuable to all young people not only as a careers taster but also to gain a valuable insight into the world of work, an opportunity for accreditation, develop employability and enterprise skills and provide a unique and motivational learning environment.