Bolton College Gatsby Benchmarks

6. Experiences of workplaces Activity

All students have the opportunity of first-hand experiences of the workplace through work visits, work shadowing and/or work experience to help their exploration of career opportunities and to expand their networks.

By the end of their study programme, every student will have had at least one experience of a workplace, in addition to any part-time jobs they may have.

Activities and placements are an integral part of students’ study programmes and, where appropriate, are differentiated and linked to their current career plans.

The different models of work experience are as follows:

The College has a work placement team that works closely with teachers and lecturers to match students to opportunities and liaise closely with employers. It also supports students in finding their own placements.

Activities are chosen according to their fitness for purpose, e.g. work shadowing enables a student to find out about a job when there are practical reasons why they would not be allowed to do this through work experience.

Experiences provide students with insights into employability skills, technical skill needs and contemporary labour market issues.

Work Placement Officers and Learning

Development Mentors talk to students about their experiences of workplaces (such as school and privately arranged work experience, part-time jobs, volunteering) to facilitate reflection and ensure progression in learning. College staff also facilitate group planning and debriefing so that individuals can learn from each other’s thinking and experiences.

The College gives students advice on how to learn from their part-time jobs and how to combine part-time work with their studies in a way that does not damage their College success.