New work experience expectations for years 7 to 9
Your school should provide 1 week’s worth of work experience activities for pupils in years 7 to 9, according to the DfE's updated statutory careers guidance, which includes updated Gatsby Benchmarks.
You should also provide 1 week's worth of work experience placement(s) for pupils in year 10 and 11.
(Previously, the guidance said pupils should have had at least 1 experience of a workplace by the age of 16, and at least 1 further experience by age 18, but didn't specify length of time.)
Activities in years 7 to 9 don't have to mean placements
Work experience activities may include:
- Multi-day work visits involving employer-set tasks or projects
- Work shadowing
- In-person or virtual employer talks in the workplace, including technical demonstrations or tours of working premises
Activities can be:
Activities