Work experience is an essential part of preparing young people for their future education, training, and career pathways. It enables students to gain first hand insight into the world of work, develop key employability skills, and begin to build confidence in professional settings.
Modern work experience models show that multiple, high quality workplace encounters help young people make informed choices, understand employer expectations, and improve overall career readiness.
Engaging in real workplaces also helps students:
• Understand the skills valued by employers
• Explore a range of industries
• Build meaningful relationships with professionals
• Gain feedback on work related tasks
• Reflect on strengths and areas for development
These features are key to what defines a meaningful workplace experience.
From September 2026, the government is introducing a new Modern Work Experience Guarantee, ensuring that every young person has access to 10 days of high quality workplace experiences across their secondary education.
This model is supported nationally through the Equalex framework, developed by The Careers & Enterprise Company. Equalex:
• Provides structured, progressive learning outcomes to raise the quality of work experience
• Ensures experiences are meaningful, multiple, and equitable
• Supports experiences starting as early as Year 7, building breadth and depth over time
• Aligns with updated Gatsby Benchmark 6 to ensure clear purpose, interaction with employers, work relevant tasks, feedback, and reflection opportunities
Equalex is designed to help schools prepare for the new statutory requirements and create inclusive, impactful experiences for all of our learners.
We are committed to providing high-quality work experience opportunities in line with national developments and the needs of our students.
Our dedicated work experience weeks for 2026 are:
• Year 10 Work Experience Week: Week commencing 29th July 2026
• Year 12 Work Experience Week: Week commencing 29th July 2026
During these weeks, students will spend time in a workplace of their choosing, helping them explore possible future careers and develop essential employability skills.
We provide all students with access to a database of potential placements through the Worcestershire Education Business Partnership.
Click below to access the Work Experience Database:
https://www.webp.org.uk/
All students will be issued with their individual user code and password, allowing them to log in, explore opportunities, and search for a placement that suits their interests and goals.