Work Experience

All Year 12 students spend one week on work experience placements at the end of the summer term. The programme has run successfully for many years and gives the students an opportunity to learn about the workplace environment first-hand, understand the expectations of employers and prepare for life outside school. It also provides valuable experience to include on university or apprenticeship application forms.

It is our expectation that all students will organise their own placement, with support and advice from the Careers Department. We believe this will give them useful experience of how they might approach the process of seeking employment. Students secure positions in a wide range of local and London-based companies as well as with other organizations such as hospitals, veterinary practices, charities, the Army and the courts.

Students are encouraged to refer to the skills they develop during work experience in their UCAS personal statements and apprenticeship applications. Heads of House receive written feedback from employers and this can often influence UCAS references. Please note that entry to some university degree courses e.g. Medicine, Veterinary Science and Physiotherapy is dependent on relevant work experience in specific areas. It is often a requirement that students organise their own ongoing placements in addition to those organised during school work experience week.