Work Experience Planning 

Balfron High School pupils will have the opportunity to complete a one week Work Experience Placement and achieve the Work Placement SQA unit during S4  (this unit has 6 SCQF points at level 4 or 5).

The steps required for work experience are:

Step 1  –  complete and return the Parental Consent Form  to your form class leader by 18th March 2020.

Step 2 – complete a career and skills review in PSE.  This will help you identify what type of company/job/career area you would like to know more about.  You will then conduct research and find out who to contact for appropriate work experience .  You will work on Assessment task 1 in your Work Experience Work Booklet during S3 – this is where you record all the information you need for the SQA unit.

Step 3 – contact appropriate employers and ask if they can offer you a placement during the week 21st -25th September 2020.   It is useful to use your networks/contacts when conducting this research but ensure that you find an appropriate placement (one which related to your career/skills development).  Remember to keep evidence/notes for the unit that you have done this research and who you contacted eg keep notes of names/company names and copies of letters/emails.

Step 4 – when you have received verbal or written agreement from an employer that they can take you – ask them to complete the online risk assessment form https://tinyurl.com/stirlingworkplacement

Remember to keep your form class leader up to date with developments.  All risk assessments must be completed by 21th May to allow time for processing – any received after that date may not be approved on time.  Please see Mrs Gallagher or Mrs Patrick if you have any difficulties with finding a work placement provider.

Step 5 – you will receive confirmation from Mrs Gallagher that your placement has passed Risk Assessment and you will get a list of information you need to know for the placement eg their address, your start time, etc. You must fill this information into Assessment Task 2 in your booklet.

Previous pupils’ experience of work experience:

• “my week proved to me that I definitely want to follow this career path – it has made me work harder to make sure I get the grades I need”
• “I thought I wanted to be a teacher – my work experience made me see that I did not enjoy this type of job”
• “my week showed me that the job is not what  thought it was – I am now not interested in a career in law and have arranged another work experience in the summer to help me decide what I do want to do”
• “I improved my network of contacts – the employer has given me names of colleagues, one who has agreed to offer me another week next year”
• “I left it too late and did not manage to arrange a placement with the employer I wanted”

Previous pupils’ advice for finding a useful work experience:

• “you must start looking and phoning people early – you have a lot of competition (from S5/6 pupils as well as other S3 pupils)”
• “speak to people for ideas – speak to parents/carers, your form class leader (as they know you well) and Mrs Patrick/Mrs Gallagher.”
• “consider the location – I decided to apply to a business in Glasgow as I wanted to work on my confidence of getting the bus and taking responsibility”
• “don’t just take the easy option (eg of working at your neighbours shop) – although it will be useful for your communication skills it might not help with your career journey”
• “remember to take notes if you get to see something useful – I had the chance to visit a court when I worked with a lawyer and I used it in my application to University”