What is work shadowing?
- Work shadowing is an informal type of work experience where you observe someone in their role to understand how they do their job.
- This is usually short term– aimed at providing an insight rather than hands on experience.
- Virtual Work Experience – live, online opportunity to hear from and to ask questions to employers.
When does work shadowing take place?
- Year 13 – In person placements in June after all external exams / during Staff training days throughout the year / also online -time varies
- Year 14 – autumn term (before UCAS application is submitted)
- Year 12 – during Staff training days throughout the year/ also online -time varies
Please note – Education Authority DOES NOT permit work experience during weekends or holidays
Why do we provide work shadowing?
Going into a particular work environment to find out a little more about the profession you are interested in.
- Provide motivation for exams in the future
- May cause a change in your career path
- May help with applications to University (UCAS forms) / Jobs
The benefit of work shadowing
1. Raise pupils’ aspirations by
- Broadening individuals’ horizons
and increasing their knowledge and understanding of the available opportunities in employment.
2. Raise levels of motivation and achievement by:
- Promoting the development and self-esteem and self-confidence.
- Relating learning and curriculum content to future opportunities including the world of work.
- Helping pupils to develop skills associated with success in education, training and employment.
- Helping pupils to develop the skills and flexibility needed to manage changing career opportunities.
- Challenging occupational stereotypes.
- Explore options they may not have considered or had assumed would not be open to them.
What year group does it involve?
- Yr 13 A) In person experiences – mainly occurs in June (after all exams)
- Yr 13 B) virtual placements – occurs throughout the year. Facilitated in the Careers HUB which allows this to occur during school time.
- Yr14 –
- This is generally placements for students who require experience for UCAS, who have previously missed this opportunity in the previous year (limited face to face placements and virtual experiences. Autumn term only)
- Yr12 –
- Virtual placements are available on www.futuresforall.org website.
- There are some limited opportunities for face to face experiences.
- All students attend a “Year 12 careers taster day” were they have the chance to meet with employers and ask questions about 2 chosen career areas. The list below provides and examples of employers who speak to the year 12 students
Year 12 – Careers Taster Day
-
- Engineering
- Healthcare
- Sport
- Computing
- Teaching
- CAFRE
- Veterinary
- Business/Accountancy
- Hospitality / Tourism
- Youth work / Ministry
- Army
What are the steps undertaken to secure a work shadowing?
- Parental Consent forms signed (one combined form) – To be returned to form teacher (or Mr Laird)
- Student phones placements or school applies for specific areas
Deadlines for work experience
- Hospital based workshops and work experience – September/ October
- School applications (specific companies) – ASAP (speak to Mr Laird)
- Pupil organised placements – Completed indemnity /insurance forms to be signed and returned mid term of Spring term (mid February)
Virtual Placements
- www.futuresforall.org
- Register on the futures for all website
- Search and apply for placement
- Mr Laird / Mrs Skuce will verify the application
- A link will be sent to your email
- Virtual Placements during school time will take place in the Careers HUB
The industries / organisations that help us provide this for our pupils?
All pupils in Year 13 have been granted access to year 13 work experience google classroom. This provides information under the following general headings.
- Introductory information (getting started)
- Planning placements
- Virtual opportunities
- During the placement
- Post Placement
Education Authority Indemnity form