Work Experience

At Hendon School, we recognise that high-quality work experience is a fundamental component of effective careers education. Aligning with Gatsby benchmarks 5: Encounters with employers and employees and 6: Experiences of the workplace. It provides students with invaluable exposure to the workplace, helping them to develop essential employability skills, gain insight into professional environments, and make informed decisions about their future pathways.

Work experience opportunities:

• All Level 3 Year 12 students complete a week of work experience each July.
• Level 2 Year 12 students complete a short day-release model of work experience

In addition, Year 12 students can access additional opportunities through the Access Aspirations programme, supported by the Mayor of London’s office. There are also a number of virtual work experience opportunities that students can access, students are taught about these in SMART Futures lessons, Personal Development sessions and the links are advertised on our school intranet.

In Year 12, it is expected that the majority of the students will self-find their placements. Where the school are able to source placements, students are made aware of the opportunities and encouraged to apply via the Careers team.

Work experience Guarantee:

From September 2025, we will be working to achieve the Work Experience Guarantee. The Equalex model is a structured, inclusive framework that ensures all secondary school students receive at least 10 days of  meaningful, progressive, high-quality work experience. This will be comprised of:

• One week’s worth of work experience activities for students in Years 7 to 9
• At least one formal work placement for students in Years 10 to 11

These experience of work opportunities may include:

• Employer-led activities (e.g. workplace visits, talks, projects)
• Virtual or hybrid experiences
• Traditional placements in real working environments

Working in Partnership with Employers:

We work closely with a wide range of employers to ensure that all placements are safe, purposeful, and mutually beneficial. By offering work experience opportunities, employers play a vital role in:

• Inspiring and motivating students
• Supporting the development of future talent
• Contributing to the delivery of high-quality careers education
• Fulfilling corporate social responsibility and community engagement goals

We welcome partnerships with organisations of all sizes and sectors, and we are committed to providing support throughout the process to ensure a positive experience for both students and host employers.

If you are interested in hosting a placement, please contact: