Work Experience (overview for all year groups)

Undertaking an opportunity for work experience can be a very valuable experience for students. It deepens their understanding about what a career in the placement area involves, helps them to understand their own strengths and areas to develop in relation to employability skills and can also give them first-hand experience on which to draw in future applications/interviews.  

We encourage all our students to undertake work experience. Our designated week of work experience comes near the very end of the school year when all students’ exams and controlled assessments for their GCSEs have finished.  There is not time for students to undertake work experience in Year 11 as they go into the final stages of their GCSE courses. During the work experience week (Monday 6 July - Friday 10 July 2026) there will be no Year 10 lessons. Those students who have not managed to find a placement, even with our support, will stay in school and carry out silent study.

Experience has shown that it is best for students to find the placement themselves. We will of course support them throughout the process.  Many very successful placements arise out of personal contacts that students have through their friends or relations. Students must be able to get themselves to the placement, so it is generally best if it is a local placement, but some students do go further afield where families can make the necessary arrangements. In school tutors will be encouraging their Year 10 students in finding a placement and if more help is needed then appointments can be made with our Careers Advisor.

Year 7-9

Across year 7-9, students will complete a total of one weeks worth of work experience activities which are embedded in to the RAS careers curriculum. The work experience provision may involve visits to workplaces, completing employer set tasks, technical demonstrations or tours (either on line or in person).

Year 10-11

Most year 10 students at Ralph Allen carry out work experience in the summer term of Y10. Y10 work experience is well supported by Mrs Bradshaw the careers advisor.

Information for students and parents

Introduction to work experience for parents RAS WEX Presentation.pptx

Helpful guide to getting organised WEX Booklet 2025-26

Actions required and key deadlines:

Information for employers

Thank you for supporting Ralph Allen students with work experience opportunities. Our work experience week is scheduled for 6-10 July 2026. Your main contact before, during and after this placement is Mrs Lisa Bradshaw: l.bradshaw@palladianacademytrust.com or T: 01225 832936 ext. 2367

Please can we request the following is completed by you within the timescales requested.  This will ensure careful planning is completed and enable all parties to be fully organised:

Year 12-13

All sixth form students are encouraged to undertake work experience whether this is a part time job, in their free time, or a formal work experience placement during the school year. Students can take a maximum of 5 days work experience in Year 12 and 3 days in Year 13 (avoiding key dates such as mock exam week). Sixth form students take ownership of their work experience plans. For a work experience placement to commence it is essential that an employer and a student health and safety form is complete.

Student Form Click Here

Employer Form Click Here

The Sixth Form Team will sign off the requested work experience time once these forms have been reviewed.