Work Experience Success Evening Jan 2026
Thank you to everyone who attended our Work Experience Success Evening on January 13th. It was wonderful to see so many of you engaged in supporting your child's future career journey and also to see so many students there too! As we discussed, parents are the single biggest influence on a child’s career path, and your involvement is vital to making these experiences meaningful.
For those who were unable to join us, or if you would like to review the details, please find a copy of the presentation.
Key Highlights from the evening
1. Updated DfE Guidance & Gatsby Benchmarks The school has been awarded all eight Gatsby Benchmarks, which provide a world-class framework for career guidance. New statutory guidance now encourages schools to look beyond a single "one-week block" of work experience. Our new goal is for students to complete two weeks of experience in total: one week during Key Stage 3 (Years 7-9) and one week during Key Stage 4 (Years 10-11).
2. The Equalex Quality Framework We have introduced Equalex, a framework designed to ensure work experience is high-quality and accessible to all students. This model focuses on:
- Meaningful Outcomes: Using structured objectives to ensure placements provide real value
- Multiple Experiences: Reaching a minimum of 10 days of work-related learning throughout secondary education via various formats, including hybrid and virtual options.
- Equitable Access: Tailoring workplace experiences to meet the individual needs of every learner.
https://www.careersandenterprise.co.uk/modern-work-experience/
3. Unifrog: Our Mandatory Platform All work experience placements must now be managed through the Unifrog Placements Tool. This is a mandatory requirement for logging placements and managing essential Health & Safety and Insurance compliance. Parents will also use this platform to provide necessary digital consent. Unifrog Guidance
4. Key Dates for 2026
- Year 8 Careers Exploration Day: Tuesday, 7th July.
- Year 9 Careers Exploration Day: Wednesday, 8th July.
- Year 10 Work Experience: Monday, 13th July – Wednesday, 22nd July.
- Years 12 & 13: Placements can be taken at any time to enhance professional development.
5. Parent Guidance & Next Steps While we provide a "board of directors" style of support, it is the student’s responsibility to find and secure their placement. We encourage students to:
- Research: Look for specific contacts on company websites or LinkedIn rather than using general "info@" email addresses.
- Take Initiative: Treat the search as a "CEO" of their own career, practising the professional outreach and interpersonal skills that are highly valued in the modern workplace.
- Explore Virtual Options: Consider virtual work experience to access global companies and develop digital skills.
For further resources and information, please visit our Careers Hub.
6. Bucks Skills Hub and LMI Information We are working in partnership with Buckinghamshire Business First and Bucks Skills Hub to support local opportunities. Understanding Labour Market Information (LMI) helps students identify priority growth sectors in Buckinghamshire, such as:
- Growth Sectors: Space, Creative Industries, High-Performance Technology, and Life Sciences .
- Skills in Demand: Communication, Leadership, and Digital skills (including Generative AI)
- Shortage Areas: Engineering, Construction, Digital Technologies, Film & TV, and Health and Social Care.
7. Empowering Employers on Health and Safety We understand that some employers may be hesitant to host placements due to perceived Health & Safety (H&S) barriers. We want to empower parents and students to challenge these objections by highlighting that work experience is a key part of an employer’s Corporate and Social Responsibility (CSR). By using the Unifrog platform, we ensure that all necessary H&S and insurance checks are managed professionally, removing the administrative burden from the employer and providing a safe, compliant environment for the student.
We Value Your Feedback
Whether you attended as a parent or a student, we would greatly appreciate your thoughts. Your feedback is vital in helping us improve this event for future cohorts.
Please take a moment to complete our feedback form: Google Form Link
We look forward to working together to ensure your child has a safe, successful, and truly valuable work experience.
I am extremely excited about what the future holds for our young people!
Anna Gunn
Careers Coordinator