Work Experience Opportunities
At Grace Academy Post 16, work experience is a key component of our 16 to 19 study programmes, students complete a two-week placement in the summer term either in a single organisation or via split placements across the two weeks. We aim to give young people the opportunity to develop their career choices, get a first taste of work, and develop the critical employability skills needed for real working conditions. This cements the weekly career tutor sessions that students take part in and links with our online career platform, Unifrog, as well as with the Gatsby Benchmarks. We also encourage students to complete online work experience as part of their non-qualification hours; these are usually related to the course they are studying or their core aim to help them gain experience to progress along their chosen career path.
We ensure each of our work experience placements:
- Are of a high-quality and are purposeful, offering challenge and as well as being relevant to the young person’s study programme and career aspirations.
- Allows the student to apply the technical and practical skills learned in the classroom/workshop.
- Are managed under the direction of a supervisor to ensure the young person obtains a genuine learning experience suited to their needs.
- Has a structured plan for the duration of the placement that provides tangible outcomes for both the student and employer.
- Has clear roles, responsibilities and expectations for the student and employer.
- Are followed by some form of reference or feedback from the employer, based on the young person’s performance.
All work experience placements comply with the Health and Safety and Employer’s Liability Compulsory Insurance guidelines.
Some of the placements students have had over the last few years in the Business, Civil Service, Education and Charity sectors include:
DBS Law | Hillstone Primary School | DHL |
Kids Planet Day Nurseries | Marston Green Junior School | Windy Arbour School |
Platform Housing Group | Shirestone Academy | HHHO Birmingham Cancer Support Drop in Centre |
MEK Hair Studio | Adam Myers Pharmacy | Citizen Housing |
Acorns Charity Shop | West Midlands Police | Safestyle UK |
Chelmunds Court Care Home | North Solihull Sports Centre | West Midlands Hospital Service NHS Foundation Trust |
I M Group | Solihull Moors Football Club | J H B Fitness and Nutrition |
Maxstoke Park Golf Club | Siemens | Xoserve |
Good Hope Hospital | St Anne Catholic Primary School | Mother Goose Day Nursery |
Coleshill Heath School | Little Hearts Matter | Solo |