re-imagining work experience in the twenty-first century anthony mann education and employers...
TRANSCRIPT
Re-imagining work experience in the twenty-first century
Anthony MannEducation and Employers Taskforcewww.educationandemployers.org
1984
Nothing to me about my life...
Work experience endures1974: Department for Education and Science
Work experience “should have value for pupils of varying ability and aptitudes and should neither be designed as vocational training nor aimed at a limited range of ability.”
1986: 66% pupils do a placement1995: 95% pupils do a placement2004: Statutory requirement for WRL
Young adults 2011 NSSS : 92%SSS : 88%Indep : 84%
Gove/Wolf v Twigg/Husbands
Compulsory work experience will be reintroduced in schools under a Labour plan to get teenagers ready for the jobs market, the Daily Telegraph has learnt.
14-16
DfE – requires that ‘work experience will form an integral part of the 16-19 study programmes from September 2013.’ ‘high quality and meaningful work experience ... to give the student a valuable experience of the work environment and to develop their employability skills.’
Three things about work experience
1. It’s not just about work experience
390 KS4 school teachers Self management
Problem solving
Team working
Understanding work
One day enterprise * *
Long term enterprise * * *
Learner enterprise * *
Employer career talks
Career fairs *
Employer mock interviews * *
Psychometric testing
Classroom presentations *
Financial education *
Entrepreneurship quals *
WRL learning resources *
Curriculum delivery *
Business mentoring
Work experience * *
Workplace visits * * *
Job shadowing
Pupil volunteering * *
Low achievers
Borderline achievers
High achievers
Learners with SEN
Disengaged learners
One day enterprise
Long term enterprise *
Learner enterprise
Employer career talks *
Career fairs *
Employer mock interviews * * *
Psychometric testing
Classroom presentations * *
Financial education *
Entrepreneurship quals *
WRL learning resources * * *
Curriculum delivery *
Business mentoring * * *
Work experience * * * *
Workplace visits * * * *
Job shadowing *
Pupil volunteering * *
Increase attainment
Broaden aspirations
Recruitment demands
Get PT job
Progression decisions
Get onto course
One day enterprise *
Long term enterprise * *
Learner enterprise
Employer career talks * * *
Career fairs * * *
Employer mock interviews
* *
Psychometric testing *
Classroom presentations
*
Financial education
Entrepreneurship quals
*
WRL learning resources
Curriculum delivery *
Business mentoring * * *
Work experience * * * * * *
Workplace visits * * * *
Job shadowing *
Pupil volunteering * *
Scores on the doors...1 Work experience 11
2 Workplace visits 10
3 Mock interviews 6
=3 Business mentoring 6
=3 Pupil volunteering 6
6 Long enterprise competitions 5
=6 Career fairs 5
=6 Career talks 5
9 Classroom presentations 4
=9 Learning resources 4
=9 Curriculum delivery 4
12 One day enterprise 3
Type of activity Getting a job Deciding on a career Getting into HEWork experience 27% (9%) 58% (20%) 27% (7%)Career talks (1-2 times) 33% (4%) 55% (8%) 32% (6%)Career talks (3 and over) 54% (16%) 84% (28%) 52% (20%)Mentoring (All types) 60% (23%) 78% (28%) 62% (18%)Enterprise (Short) 25% (5%) 35% (8%) 28% (4%)Enterprise (Long) 34% (7%) 50% (3%) 50% (8%)
WX is great, but according to young adults...
Other activities are a bit easier to put on...
Activity How demanding (1 = not at all, 5=very)
Staff going into schools to talk about the organisations or the jobs they do
2.72
Staff volunteering to be reading or number partners (usually at primary schools)
2.84
Staff volunteering to take part in enterprise competitions
2.88
Staff volunteering to give mock interviews/CV feedback 2.93
Staff volunteering to be governors 3.00
Job Shadowing 3.03
Staff volunteering to be mentors 3.06
Workplace visits 3.08
Organising work experience 3.27
Three things about work experience
2. It really is for higher achievers and we do them a disservice if
we do not realise that
It really is for higher achievers...
“Perhaps you are a barrister who can show a young Wykenhamist something of chamber life?” (£800!?)
Its time to broaden the debate around access.
Three things about work experience
3. It’s time to understand the link between WX and attainment
NFER (2012). Survey of 700 KS4/5 teaching staff with experience of pupils undertaking work experience. UK. (Mann 2012)
“What impact, if any, do work experience placements have on the motivation of KS4/5 pupils at your school?”
More motivated (total): 68%Much more motivated: 17%Less motivated: 6%
“Focusing on pupils who are currently achieving near the borderline of key attainment targets (such as 5 GCSEs A*-C or equivalent), to what extent do you think that work experience placements increase these individuals' chances of reaching these targets?”
Increases chances (total): 50%Greatly increases chances: 7%Reduces chances: 6%
Pearson/Education and Employers Taskforce (unpublished – fieldwork 2012). Survey of 366 KS4/5 teaching staff.
“What impact, if any, do work experience placements have, in general, on the motivation of KS4/5 pupils at your school/college?”
More motivated (total) : 82%Much more motivated : 25%Less motivated : 2%
“Focusing on pupils who are currently achieving near the borderline of key attainment targets (such as 5 GCSES A*-C), to what extent do you think that work experience placements increase these individuals’ chances of reaching these targets?”
Increases chances (total): 64%Greatly increases chances: 13%Reduces chances : 3%
“If school was like this, I’d love it”
Congratulations! You were right and more and more people are agreeing with you.
Please don’t stop thinking about work experience, who it is for, what it can provide for young people and employers, how its insights and experiences can be fairly and efficiently delivered. Work experience is a complicated, sophisticated, remarkable thing: it is to be respected, cherished and valued.
Stay in touch.
www.educationandemployers.org/research.aspx
www.inspiringthefuture.org