At Beths Grammar School we believe a period of work related learning not only gives students the chance to see what a real working environment is like, but also gives them an opportunity to develop key skills that they will need in their working lives. For some students it is also a chance for them to sample a possible future career direction.

The School uses the Unifrog Placements Tool for the administration of the work experience schemes. This ensures that work experience is safe, enjoyable and beneficial for the students who take part.

For any queries regarding work experience, please contact Mrs Blyghton and the Careers and Guidance Department on workexperience@beths.bexley.sch.uk.

Aims of Work Experience

¨ To enable students to appreciate the demands, priorities, disciplines and relationships found in the world of employment.

¨ For students to develop self-confidence and self-discipline while working with adults.

¨ To recognise and record the use of Employability Skills.

Work experience gives students an insight into the world of work and an opportunity to develop employability skills. In contrast to an industrial visit when they are only able to observe, students are able to experience a short continuous spell in a working situation and to gain first-hand knowledge of what particular jobs entail. This experience helps prepare young people for the transition from school to college or university or indeed, employment. It can also help students in their own career choice.

Employability Skills

Work experience gives our students the opportunity to demonstrate skills that are important in the future. These skills can be transferred to any area of higher or further education or employment and provide evidence of success to other employers and admissions tutors.

Employability Skills             

• Communication skills     
• Working with others
• Number skills                    
• Problem solving
• IT skills                                 
• Improving own learning and performance
• Practical skills

Personal Attributes

• Good attendance and punctuality
• Willingness to undertake tasks
• Politeness and courtesy               
• Appropriate appearance
• An ability to understand and carry out instructions
• An ability to work independently and to use initiative

Year 12 Work Experience 

During the week of 1st to 5th July our Year 12 students were able to take part in work experience. Beths was represented at prestigious companies including the Bank of America, the London Stock Exchange, PwC and KPMG. Some students experienced the reality of working at the Crown Prosecution Service, the Bangladesh High Commission, the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Department of Business and Trade, and at academic institutions including Goldsmiths, Imperial and Kings Colleges.   

But more important was the opportunity for our students to explore possible career paths and develop vital employability skills in a professional workplace. There are so many different directions open to our young people, and many of our students worked alongside accountants, architects, dentists, doctors, engineers, estate agents, lawyers, opticians,  pharmacists, physiotherapists, social workers, teachers and vets. Others worked in banks, care homes, hospitals, retail outlets, tech companies and film, photography, media and fashion studios,  

What the employers said about our students . . .  

• Being honest, I would happily employ Edmund to work in my team, as would my colleagues that he interacted with.  

• Sam is exactly the kind if of young man we wish to employ. 

• Ayoola is already an extremely well rounded student. It is clear he is extremely intelligent and that can be seen from the subjects he is studying and the university applications he is making. He also possesses the social skills and professionalism that many intellectual candidates lack nowadays. 

• Eniola was able to create communication path with a non verbal person and someone with limited communication skills.  

• Daily support with a very challenging student with social, emotional and metal health needs. Arinze's calm and reserved demeanour was a really supportive influence on his student. 

• Kristof showed great creativity in his level design, which was not only unique and interesting but also well thought-out from most angles. It would probably not require much adjustment to be considered as a suitable design to use in the game. 

What our students learned . . .  

• I realise there are a lot more skills which I need to be able to pursue my career choices  

• The importance of clear communication; anything and everything you say and do in the workplace has to be conveyed to others in a manner that allows virtually anyone to understand, otherwise there would be no cohesion and departments can't work together to achieve their collective goals 

• I learnt office etiquette, including how to behave, communicate, dress and compose yourself in a professional environment. 

• I'm able to look into the future with a much broader mindset. IIt helped me to realise how important networking and being inquisitive is at any stage of your career 

• I now have a better understanding of different engineering disciplines and how interrelated they are 

• It has opened a door in my mind into a career path I had not really considered yet 

 

Year 10/11 Work experience evening