http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-16872898-+
The more young people come into contact with employers while they are at school, the less likely they are to go on to be unemployed, research suggests.
Pupils who took part in four or more activities with employers were five times less likely to drop out of school or training, it says.
Those who had no such contact were most likely to be not in education, employment or training.
Activities included work experience, visits and enterprise competition.
Now this IS interesting. Four or five different experiences seems a lot, but it says here that visits and competitions count, it's not all got to be 'going out to work' type work experience.
What sorts of experiences has your child's school offered? Do you remember having visits and the like at school? I remember one notable school trip which I think would count- in the morning we went to a car seat fabric manufacturing company, which was deathly dull, (or rather, I was too immature to enjoy it, I should have, I was interested in design) but in the afternoon we visited a biscuit factory. And had lots of biccies lol. Yum!
A fortnights work experience in Year 10 for my girls and that was it. I do think links to local business are good for schools, like you say even being involved in competitions such as design projects seems to help eh?
I don't recall any such experiences of my own, we didn't even do the work experience.
ursh x
I don't know whether DD's school does work experience. As she is in Y9, I will no doubt find out soon! They do have a big careers evening every year, which is optional to attend, and where representatives of various occupations will talk to anyone who is interested. DD likes to go and collect the free samples which are given out ......... Don't know if they do those enterprise type competitions. I hope so, as I think she would enjoy that sort of thing.
I did two weeks work experience putting dog licences in alphabetical order, at the local authority's legal department. It was deadly dull!
I think the research is very interesting, and I am surprised that they seem to be suggesting that four or more types of employment contact could be typical. Seems a bit high to me, although makes sense. I guess if a teen has a Saturday, or evening job, then that is a start.
Al's new school does, and they are great, because they have in-school stuff for those kids unable to do work experience out of school. So Al might be able to work in the kitchens, or with the caretaker or something. Or in year 7 and 8 classes. Some other schools I visited just exempted some of the SEN pupils from work experience if they couldn't do it independently but I think it's really important.
His current school does it for certain pupils, for example one of his peers has just had a supported placement at McDonalds. Alex would have been a candidate if he had stayed there.
That's brilliant, EB, that children are able to do in school work experience if that suits them best. Indicates a school that thinks about all of its pupils, to me. Do you know when A will be starting there?
Work experience was for a week and lass got her chosen one but lad didnt cos no one would take him on because of the insurance of an under 16 year old all cos he wanted to work with horses. He got outdoor work in the end though.
My other lad wants animals for his and I can see trouble ahead for that and its all boils down to being under 16 and the insurance.