It is a government ambition for every young person to have access to two weeks’ worth of work experience. It is not yet policy (as at Sept 25), the policy is under development and the Department for Education (DfE) will share future timelines and expectations in the future.
What is Modern Work Experience?
Modern work experience is changing for the better. As well as a single placement in Year 10 or 11, every young person will have access to a series of progressive, high‑quality experiences of the workplace throughout their school years.
These experiences help students make informed choices about their future, build confidence, and develop the essential skills that employers value.
What does this mean for my child?
Modern work experience is designed to support young people as they grow — offering multiple, varied and purposeful opportunities that fit their stage of education.
But don’t worry — this doesn’t mean you’ll need to find an extra week of work experience for your child. Over the next few years, schools in Cumbria will be exploring how this new approach can work most effectively for local young people.
For pupils in Years 7–9, experiences will usually take place as accompanied visits. In many cases, they may be linked to existing educational trips that have been adapted so children can:
- explore real workplaces
- learn about different job roles
- discover the career opportunities available locally and beyond
What do we mean by a “meaningful” experience?
A meaningful workplace encounter is more than a quick tour. It gives young people a clear purpose, supports the curriculum, and includes learning outcomes that match their age and needs.
A meaningful experience should include:
- two‑way interactions with employers
- opportunities for students to reflect on what they’ve learned
- feedback from employers on the young person’s strengths
- insights into what it’s like to work in a specific environment
- an understanding of the skills and behaviours employers look for
- information about recruitment processes and how to succeed
These experiences are designed to build confidence, broaden horizons, and help young people understand the world of work in a safe, supported and inspiring way.
How can you ensure your child benefits from these extra opportunities?
It is key that every young person prepares for their workplace visit and this could mean looking at the business’ website, learning about what they do and looking at the jobs that exist in that organisation.
After they have been on the visit, have a conversation with your child about what they learnt, whether they could see that business being somewhere they would like to work and explore what qualifications or schools subjects would help them secure a job with them.
By the time your child reaches Year 10, their Key Stage 3 experiences should help them identify a job or sector they’re interested in. This will make their year 10 work experience placement more meaningful and help to support and inform their career decisions after Year 11.
Encourage them to leave a lasting impression. If they do want to go on future work experience or apply for an apprenticeship with a business they have visited, encourage them to send a thank you email or card.