In courses where Work Experience is neither the core aim of the study programme or required as part of the qualification, we provide or facilitate it as an enrichment activity to add value to an individual's study programme. Work Experience, as outlined by the Education Funding Agency, is 'designed to bridge the gap between education and the world of work. It can help inform career choices, provide the opportunity for young people to prove themselves to an employer, and help instil the attitudes and behaviours expected at work.' Work experience can take many forms including work tasters; running a student enterprise; participation in social action, volunteering or a work placement.
Our Work Experience Scheme enables students to spend a week in a situation where they gain a first-hand experience of the ‘world of work’ learning many crucial skills. We will launch this scheme to the Year 12 students officially in September during a Year 12 induction morning, all students are informed of their expectations and provided with a timeline that should be met in order to secure their chosen placement. Unfortunately, our recent Y12 work experience week had to be cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. We do, nonetheless thank all those people, companies and organisations that offered to help give work experience to our students.
Here are just some of the placements at organisations that Okehampton College students have managed to obtain.