Sixth Form Work Experience

Work experience gives you a real-world glimpse into different careers, helping you figure out what suits you—and what doesn’t. Think of it as a chance to try on different hats before deciding which one fits best.

It’s not just about exploring careers, though. Work experience helps you build essential skills like communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and time management. These transferable skills will set you apart in any future job or academic environment.

Plus, adding work experience to your CV makes you stand out to universities, apprenticeship providers, and future employers. It shows that you’re proactive and responsible—qualities they value. And don’t forget the connections you’ll make! Networking with professionals could lead to references, mentorship, or even future job opportunities.

When can I go on work experience?

In the Sixth Form, we aim to be as flexible as possible to support your work experience, including allowing you time out of school to take part. When deciding the best time for your placement, here are a few things to consider:

  • Minimise Learning Disruption - Think about which days would result in the least missed lessons. The goal is to enjoy your work experience without worrying about catching up on a lot of missed work. Choosing days that minimise this impact will make your experience more enjoyable and stress-free.

  • Check the School Calendar - Make sure to review the school calendar and avoid key dates for your year group, such as mock exams or other major events. Planning around these ensures you stay on top of your studies while gaining valuable experience.

  • Talk to your SDL - Before finalising your plans, have a quick chat or send an email to your SDL with the dates you’re considering. They can offer advice, help you identify potential clashes, and suggest alternative dates if necessary.

What do I need to do?

Once you have found an employer that you would like to do work experience with you should write them an email to see if they would be willing to host you for a placement. You can find a guide to help you write this introductory email by clicking here.

When the employer confirms they can host you for a placement, you should reply to thank them and also include the paragraph found by clicking here (this will let them know what happens next to get your work experience approved).

It is then time for you to log the details of your placement on Unifrog - all work experience placements must be logged on the Unifrog platform and have been fully approved before the placement goes ahead.

  1. Login to Unifrog and go to the Placements tool

  2. Click on Add new placement

  3. Complete the information on the form and tick the box to mark it as complete (doing this triggers an email to be sent to the employer and your parent or carer, with information they need to complete). 

  4. The employer will complete the form and I will be able to review the information provided and the placement request will be sent through to me to review. I can then make sure the placement has the correct risk assessments, insurance and health and safety policies in place to keep you safe while on placement.

  5. The placement coordinator (Mr Eke) will review all of the information provided by both parties and if everything is ok the placement is approved. At this stage everyone involved in the placement (you, your parent/carer and the employer) will get an "It's going ahead" email to confirm the placement is approved to take place.

    If you do not receive this email, the placement must not take place.

It is very important that you regularly check your school email account throughout the process so you do not miss emails about your work experience placement as this will slow down the approval process.

If you have any questions about the process for organising your placement or would like support in completing the form please email Mr Eke.

The video below will help you to complete the form student placement form on Unifrog correctly:

 

How do I make the most out of my work experience?

Login to Unifrog and read this article to help you get the most out of your work experience:

For students: a guide to placements/work experience

You can also download the Unifrog placements journey which provides you with useful activities to complete throughout your placement, as well as somewhere to jot down all the information you need to remember.

If you are unwell on the day of your placement you must contact both your placement and the school to let them know. It is best to call the employer if possible so that you know they have received your message.

 

Do I need to do anything after my placement?

Your employer will receive an email encouraging them to give feedback about you whilst you were on placement - this can be really useful in helping to highlight your strengths and areas to develop.

You will also get sent a form and completing this reflection helps you to learn even more from your placement experience.

 

What if I can't find a placement?

Consider looking for virtual work experience opportunities such as the ones offered on Springpod and email Mr Eke. There are some fields such as medicine that due to the nature of the work they are doing you may not be able to do an in-person placement.