Next Step Ready – Year 10s Build Skills for Work Experience
Key Impact
The series of workshops nurtured confidence, skills and the clarity needed to actively pursue and secure meaningful work experience placements.
Purpose
By guiding the students to explore career interests, understand a wide range of job sectors, and recognise their own strengths, the programme aims to give them self-belief and practical tools. Students are supported in taking decisive steps towards securing a placement that interests and motivates them, and may shape their future career journeys.
Context
NSSW has a long-standing partnership with Careerpilot, and this new programme builds on the collaboration by introducing a new outreach programme to support work experience preparation. The programme aligns with NSSW’s remit, recognising that high-quality work experiences can spark students’ ambitions, broaden their horizons and deepen their understanding of career pathways. By learning to confidently articulate what they gain from a placement—skills, insights, achievements and aspirations—students are better positioned for their next steps, whether in FE, HE, apprenticeships or the workplace.
How It Was Done
The workshops brought together interactive activities, a structured workbook and guided online research using Careerpilot to create an engaging, immersive experience. Students were encouraged to push their thinking, explore new possibilities and connect their strengths to future opportunities.
Activities included:
• Completing a careers quiz to discover interests and personality traits that could shape their future direction
• Linking those interests to dynamic job sectors and emerging career pathways
• Researching job roles, including salary, required skills and progression opportunities
• Reflecting on personal strengths through structured skills-mapping activities
• Learning how to identify local employers offering work experience
• Practising how to craft professional emails and approach companies with confidence and clarity
Students also explored what they hoped to gain from a work placement—whether that meant stepping into a role they’ve always been curious about, building new transferable skills or gaining a real-world taste of working life.
Evaluation and Outcomes
8 attendees responded to the 10-question post-programme survey, sample responses:
- I know the benefits of work experience:
100% agree/strongly agree - I found a local company I can ask to see if they offer work experience:
100% agree/strongly agree - I know some of the skills I could mention when applying for a work experience job role:
100% agree/strongly agree - I know some of the organisational things I need to sort out for my work experience:
88% agree/strongly agree
Student Voice
Students highlighted how the workshop helped them connect their interests with possible careers and feel more confident about contacting employers.
“It was good to learn about what jobs are available in different sectors, how they link to my interests and the potential progression.”
G, Year 10“The support to write emails to employers was really helpful. I feel more confident to do this in the future for myself.”
L, Year 10
School Perspective
Staff at Hayle Academy also highlighted the impact of the workshops in helping students think more broadly about their future opportunities and approach work experience with greater confidence.
“The sessions were invaluable to support students in thinking about the benefits of work experience. They provided students with the tools needed to be confident in securing high quality placements and to ‘think outside the box’. Working with student ambassadors meant that possibilities began to look more achievable, particularly for our most vulnerable students. Students left the sessions with an enthusiasm and determination to experience the workplace for themselves.”
Rebs Wilson – Assistant Headteacher, Strategic Safeguarding Lead (DSL) / CEIAG Lead, Hayle Academy