Guidelines for Students

Organising Your Own Work Experience

From the end of your GCSE exams through the summer holidays
(except for Into the Sixth Form days)

Also during Year 12 (preferably holidays)

Write a CV (you have received guidance on this during career lessons)

www.connexionsbucks.orq.uk

Select companies/organisations through friends, family, careers and

staff, Yellow Pages, internet.

Write a letter of application giving your preferred dates and number of

days (e.g. 2 for shadowing and 5 for experience).

If possible take your CV and letter to the company/organisation,

otherwise post them.

If accepted, ask company/organisation to complete the Company

Insurance/Health and Safety form (attached). Return the form, with the
parental reply slip from "Guidelines to Parents" to Dr. Philpott before
your placement begins. (Post to school if you are already on holiday).

Carry out and enjoy your placement.

Write a letter of thanks immediately.

Complete a short report (on the form provided) and hand in to Dr.
Philpott.

Timing:-

Process:-

WORK SHADOWING/WORK EXPERIENCE

GUIDELINES FOR PARENTS
The Scheme
Experience of the World of Work is a vital component of a young person's education. At the RGS the
main provision for this is through Work Shadowing/Work Experience in the UK or through a Work
Experience exchange programme with France.
Work Shadowing is aimed at giving a student a brief intensive exposure to management skills,
information about a possible career, and knowledge of the world of work in general. Our scheme
allows him to 'shadow' a manager for between 2 to 5 days. This, as the image implies, means he
observes the manager in action, though depending on the circumstances, he may also be actively
involved in some work or tasks. Work experience in France is usually 5 days.
The Timing for Work Shadowing/Experience (placement)
The long period after the GCSE exams and before 'AS' Level courses start is an ideal time to do a
placement. If this is not possible, then the first year sixth (holidays) is equally convenient. In
exceptional circumstances the school will allow him time off during term time, if he is unable to
arrange anything during a holiday period.
The timing for French Work Experience (Toulouse)
France is visited in December of Year 12 for one week. It is part of an exchange programme. Details
of this opportunity will follow after the GCSE exams, during the "Into the Sixth" days (July). Mr
Page & Miss Munday organise this.
The Process
Students are strongly encouraged to find their own work placements, though we do have contact lists
that can be obtained from Dr Philpott. Your son must keep us informed about his arrangements and
complete the necessary forms. To help him with his planning for the placement, we would ask you to
read the Guidelines he has been given and ensure that he completes the procedures properly. In
particular, we would ask you to ensure that he writes a letter of thanks, within a couple of days of
completing his placement. Also, the Bucks Education Business Partnership in Amersham (BEBP)
will help with placements once your son is registered in the Sixth Form. However, this will cost you
30 and the placement will be for two days in June after the AS exams.
If your son is interested in doing a work placement in France, then it is not necessary for him to
do a placement in the UK (Unless he wishes to study law, veterinary science or medicine).
French work experience is aimed at all boys who have achieved a GCSE in French. It is not
necessary to be studying languages in the 6th form. All boys will be given the opportunity to
apply for French work experience in July of Year 11.
Insurance
The School will insure your son for his travel to and from the place of work. However the School
requires written confirmation that the firm has the proper insurance cover for students doing a
placement and that the company will brief your son on risk assessment. The School deals with the
insurance for all French placements.

Royal Grammar School Work Shadowing/Experience Scheme

Name of Student: .................................................................

Form: ...............

I agree to my son taking part in the RGS Work Shadowing/Experience Scheme.

Signed: .................................................................................
(Parent/Guardian)

Date: ................

Name and address of company where placement will take place:

Telephone number: .....................................................................................................

Name of Supervisor in the Company: ........................................................................
Dates of placement: .................................

Please return to Dr Philpott (Careers dept)

to

......................................................

CONFIRMATION OF ATTENDANCE
.................................................................................
UNDERTOOK HIS PLACEMENT
FROM .................................................. TO ..................................................................
SIGNED ..............................................................................................................................
POSITION .........................................................................................................................
ORGANISATION

............................................................................................................

DATE ............................................................
COMMENTS: If you wish to comment on any aspect including the student, please do so
below:

ROYAL GRAMMAR SCHOOL

Company Insurance/Health and Safety Form
When you have arranged your period of Work Placement, you must complete Section A of this form and ask
the firm/company to complete Section B, then return it immediately to Dr Philpott.
SECTION A: To be completed by the student
Your Name:

...............................................................

Form

Date ......................

Name and address of Company: ....................................................................................................................

Nature of the work for your placement: ........................................................................................................
Dates of your Work Placement: ....................................................................................................................
SECTION B: To be completed by the Company
Name of person responsible for student: .......................................................................................................
Telephone Number: .......................................................................................................................................
Email Address: ..............................................................................................................................................
HEALTH AND SAFETY
Do you comply with all current health and safety legislation and, in particular, do you have an adequate safety
policy statement as required by Section 2(3) of the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974)? YES/NO
The student will be instructed in health and safety procedures and in the use of facilities before the placement
begins.
YES/NO
Risk Assessment will be carried out with the student before the placement begins. (Please note that 'hands-on'
experience should take place in a non-hazardous environment).
YES/NO
Signature: ..............................................................................................
INSURANCE
Under your company's Public and Employee Insurance Scheme, you will be covered for students work
shadowing or on work experience. However, the Governors of the Royal Grammar School require that we
have written verification of this. Thank you.
Names of Company:

I/We verify that students doing Work Shadowing/Experience with us will be covered under our
Public and Employee Insurance Scheme.
Name: ............................................................................................
Signature: ....................................................................................

Date: ....................................

WORK SHADOWING/ EXPERIENCE RECORD FORM

This must be completed when you have finished your work shadowing/experience and returned to Dr
Philpott. It will be kept in your school file and used to your advantage in future references.
Student's Name: .............................................................................................................................
Form: ..............................................................................................................................................
Home Address: ................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................................
Name of Person Shadowed or Supervisor: ....................................................................................

Nature of Insight: ............................................................................................................................

Dates of Placement ...........................................................................................................................

Please write below a brief account/summary considering the following points: Nature of work
observed

Daily variations
Level of involvement
What have you learned about management?
Has this helped you make a career decision?

Have you written a letter of thanks? YES/NO (delete as appropriate)