AIBU to think there should be organised work experience placement schemes for school students

[DuaNinja]

Starting to feel very frustrated trying to help DD to find a year 12 work experience placement. She completed a week in year 10 but this year the school want them to find something relevant to future studies and not just to go to work with your parents or similar. It sounds so easy in theory but in practice why would a random company want the hassle of dealing with a work experience kid? It would be great if there was a proper system in place for this. I believe in Ireland students undertake work experience in year 11 and have a vocational / transition year between lower exams and senior exams (apologies if this is not correct, I only have a very vague understanding of this). In my day the school had links with local businesses and we signed up tor a placement and the company we went to had a plan in place for us. DD's school offers no practical help, just links to websites about how to write a CV. So far she has sent her CV and a targeted email to 9 companies and has not had a single response. Also, if she does get a response, we know nothing about the potential companies offering the place. I would feel happier if I knew she was going somewhere that had been vetted in some way. Not that she is going to get a placement at this rate.

A national service programme rotating around different placements for a few months at a time could be a way of addressing some of these challenges but would be costly and complicated to set up. Not specific to the armed forces but more general!

OK so who is going to staff and pay train all these children and take time out of their day and away from their workload to do all this with all the students?

Rather than just using students as free labour? Who will police and organise it all?

I think the advantage would be that he would be getting paid overtime (ie. To work when he would usually be at school) 🤷

Out of interest what sort of career is he interested in? It's worth keeping in mind that many professional jobs require qualifications, security clearances etc. As a result someone with work experience may be shoved into he corner to do some repetitive and boring task without really benefiting. I think the most benefit comes from jobs that are skilled but not technical, so the teens can actually get some hands on experience.

I still think it's good for students to do their own research and reach out to employers directly. It is unlikely that the school would be able to provide quality placements for every child. What if 20 students wanted to become a lawyer? They can't send them all to the same two firms that they have contacts with (hypothetically of course).

The local councils used to offer summer placements but they all have notices online that they no longer offer this.

Ask the school what happens with students who don't get a placement. There will be lots because 1) it's tricky so some will try but won't manage and 2) it's effort so some won't bother at all.

Will they be in school in lessons? Doing something else?

Thsi was what the Tories suggested at the last GE and everyone laughed/mocked/ said it was too expensive/unworkable.

See my lengthy previous post explaining it!

I've been involved in arranging placements for university, school students and helping my own children.

Having a student of any age working alongside you is a big responsibility for staff, managers and companies/organisations. It takes up a large amount of staff time, which makes it especially costly for smaller businesses.

The pay off is meant to be that the student might choose to work with them/ in their industry at a later date.

At the moment the costs and hassle to business, particularly with younger students doing just one week simply is not worth it - especially when most have absolutely no interest in working in that role/industry and have simply been told to find 'something'.

I don't think school work experience is useful - in Year 10/11 they are too young for the vast majority of tasks/workplaces and in Year 12/13 they often have a regular part-time job. In fact my children's schools have been very negative about regular part time work, as was my own stating 'they need to concentrate on their exams'.

Vocational/professional courses work placements should be prioritised rather than school work experience weeks.

That's not whet they suggested at all.
What they actually suggested was compulsory service at weekends which would mean that students who already had jobs (because they needed the money or because they were an apprentice etc) or who took part in sports matches etc, would be disadvantaged. Lots of us said that providing funding for something school/college based between the ages of 16-18 rather than at age 18 (at my 6th form Wednesday afternoons was enrichment afternoon) would work very well.

DH’s firm (an office) used to do work placements for their local council. They complained to the council, they needed school students, who could read! The council asked them, if it were really necessary?

Possibly because many places don't even have 'local shops' any more.

We used to send students to local newspapers , for example. Those don't exist any longer , at least not in a physical local form.

See also : no bank branches.

DS's school uses an accursed app called Unifrog. Quote from the employee at the company that kindly takes on a lot of kids for work experience: "Please, please tell me you're not using Unifrog any more!" 😬

Anyone that thinks their children would benefit from what the Armed forces have to offer should take them along to a cadet force unit.

They offer a great variety of activities, skills and leadership training (with qualifications) for very low cost with most costs covered.

We don't need to invent something (national service) when there are already things in place for young people to access.

It can't be forced though - nor should it be.

Eh? Unifrog is fab!

UNIFROG 😡😡

Have you tried any VWEX schemes OP?

The 'gap in the market' has been filled a little by these. My DS did one. They are usually free.

Most private schools run an unofficial reciprocal arrangement between themselves to accommodate each others kids. Maybe something like that? I live in a small town with 2 high schools plus one school sends 200 kids per year on Duke of Edinburgh so work experience is really hard to get. I think it should be dropped for year 10 as so many businesses won't or cannot take under 16s. Maybe run a week long workshop instead with writing CVs and mock interviews etc.

Just a thought, my son had to do virtual volunteering for his DofE and he did 'social media' for the RNLI. That might work.

And if you are not? And just doing A levels with no ideas for after? The part time job also teaches about turning up on time, following instructions and team work which are basics in most jobs

When my kids did GCSE (and also when I was working in a school, where we had a Work Experience Co Ordinator - that was her entire job!) they did! ALL Year 10 were given a placement. If they were quick - like my younger son - they got a placement related to their intended career (he worked in a bank, got a lovely letter of thanks when he finished his fortnight, and now works as an accountant). If they were slow and reluctant (like my eldest DS and DD) they got what they were given (work in a picture framer's and bookshop cafe respectively). They all enjoyed it immensely, mostly because of the time spent with them showing them how the World of Work worked!

I now work with youngsters coming in and it's their first ever experience of work. They don't realise SO many basic things about working, that it's made me realise what a valuable thing work experience was.

When I was at school, the careers department at school had a huge list of local companies who had agreed to host students, and helped us find placements. We picked one from the list and then ‘applied’. Most companies won’t take students now due to insurance/health & safety/hybrid working/too much hassle, and the students I know have a really hard time trying to organise placements - except those with high-flying and well-connected parents, which kind of defeats the object. I agree, there should be help available to students from schools to set up the placements.

Because that is what this Y12 work experience week is about.

No one is saying that Y12s shouldn't have part time jobs. But this Y12 work experience week is specifically aimed at getting relevant work experience for future plans to benefit applications. It's nothing like Y10 when you just go to work with your dad.

Yes, I know. I agree with you. Their version of it was very silly! Anything that costs extensive money and investment in an extra workforce simply won't happen.

Work Experience only really worked when all towns and even villages had 'local' firms.

But those 'local companies' don't exist any more! At least , I bet more than half of them don't.

Ask around your friends? My DH has accepted friends DC for two week places