Work Experience: a study to consider the new requirements on secondary schools and employers

Summary:

This study will provide new evidence on how England’s forthcoming work experience requirements for all 11–16-year-olds can be delivered effectively and fairly. It will investigate what schools and employers need, the barriers young people may face, and the implications for disadvantaged students. Alongside reviewing existing UK and international evidence, the study will gather new survey data, run focus groups and analyse previously unpublished records to address this issue in depth.

1. Introduction

In England, the Department for Education has recently introduced new requirements on secondary schools for all students (c. 3.1 million)[1] to engage with the workplace. These requirements, which are believed will be made statutory, specify that:

between years 7 to 9 students aged 11-13 (c. 1.9 million) will be expected to participate in at least five days of ‘work experience activities’. These include job shadowing, workplace visits (involving employer-set tasks or projects) and in-person or virtual employer talks in the workplace; and
during years 10 and 11, students aged 14-16 (c. 1.2 million) must also participate in one or more ‘work experience placement’ lasting at least five days in total.

2. Purpose of the study

This in-depth study will consider how this might be delivered and the benefits to young people, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds. It will draw on UK and international evidence and include a systematic review of relevant research literature. It will examine unpublished historical data on delivery and impact when work-related learning at key stage 4 was last a statutory requirement. It will be supplemented by focus groups and new survey data.

Ultimately, it will provide the most comprehensive review available of workplace engagement in the career development of secondary school students (aged 11-16) and how it can be realistically delivered.

3. Key areas of focus

Education and Employers is undertaking a four month, UK wide review to:

Confirm the characteristics and long-term impacts of the most effective forms of work experience and employer engagement in career development.
Understand the challenges for schools and employers in significantly increasing provision
Assess the advantages and disadvantages of different delivery options locally, regionally and nationally.
Clarify the specific barriers faced by disadvantaged and underserved young people.
Learn from existing pilots and previous work experience systems.
Review international evidence and previously unpublished data.

4. Study partners

The study, which is kindly supported by the DHL UK foundation, is being undertaken by the Education and Employers Charity led by Dr Anthony Mann. Dr Mann is the former lead of the OECD Career Readiness project and the Charity’s research team.

Education and Employers is an independent charity that has published over 70 research reports in the UK and internationally on employer engagement and education – including a number on work experience. Its report that 4 or more encounters with the world of work halves the chances of young people becoming NEET has influenced government policies around the world.[2]

The project will build on the extensive work that Education and Employers has undertaken over the last 15 years to understand how work experience and wider employer engagement in career guidance can be delivered as effectively, efficiently and equitably as possible.