Work Experience

At Saint Gabriel’s College, we are committed to preparing students for the world of work and equipping them with the skills needed for future success.

The History of Work Experience

Historically, students completed a strict 2-week block placement during term time with a single employer to develop baseline industry skills. These placements traditionally focused on:

• Conduct & Workplace Etiquette: Adapting to professional boundaries, dressing appropriately, and understanding office behavior.

• Work Ethic & Structural Rules: Navigating standard working hours, shift patterns, and daily corporate environments.

• Professional Relationships: Learning how to work effectively within teams and manage relationships with supervisors.

• Time Management & Punctuality: Learning the importance of arriving on time and managing daily commutes independently.

• Communication Skills: Developing the confidence to speak with adults and clients in a professional setting.

The New DfE National Framework

Why Has It Changed?

• Employer Feasibility: Providing high-quality, continuous 2-week placements created significant operational and logistical strains for businesses, making it unsustainable for them to host students for that length of time.

• Placement Shortages: Because of these operational pressures, schools and local business networks simply could not find enough high-quality, 2-week slots to cover entire year groups anymore.

To solve this, national guidelines have evolved. Instead of one single block of work, students are now required to complete 10 high-quality interactions with employers over their 5 years in school (a minimum of 2 experiences per academic year). This builds a much broader career network.

Examples of these interactions include:

• Guest speaker assemblies and expert Q&A sessions.

• Business mentoring and career insight workshops.

• Mock interview days with real employers.

• Workplace visits and industry site tours.

• Enterprise days and hands-on career challenges.

Exclusive Placement Opportunities at SGC

Despite these national changes, we are delighted to still offer a unique placement opportunity for our current students.

While standard 2-week placements have officially come to an end, we are allowing a select number of physical placements lasting 2 to 4 days for a dedicated, highly organised group of students.

To access this exclusive opportunity, students must take full ownership of the process. You are responsible for:

• Initiating first contact with employers independently.

• Directly finding and setting up your own placement from scratch.

• Cold-contacting businesses using the school's guided templates.

• Securing the required insurance confirmations from the host employer.

Sourcing your own experience—by making that first professional contact and setting up the placement yourself—is incredibly highly valued by universities and top apprenticeship providers. It demonstrates exceptional initiative, maturity, and independence that will make your CV stand out from the crowd.

Next Steps for Parents & Students

Placement