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Work experience: guidance

Work experience isn't statutory, although it's expected. Learn about the expectations for a high-quality placement, including for pupils with SEND, and take a look at what other schools provide.

Updated
on 27 June 2025See updates
School types: All•School phases: Secondary, 16 Plus•Ref: 81
Contents
  1. Work experience is expected at Key Stages 3, 4 and 5
  2. What a high-quality work placement looks like
  3. What Ofsted expects
  4. Safeguarding considerations
  5. Pupils with SEND: raise career aspirations
  6. Examples of work experience provision
  7. Read about statutory careers requirements and more

Work experience is expected at Key Stages 3, 4 and 5

KS3

From September 2025, you should be planning to provide Key Stage 3 (KS3) pupils with 1 week's worth of work experience activities (note that you don't need to have this in place in September, but should be working towards it from then).

KS3 pupils don't need to go on placements – their activities could include:

  • Multi-day work visits involving employer-set tasks or projects
  • Work shadowing
  • Employer talks, including technical demonstrations or tours of working premises (these could be in-person or virtual)

Activities should be multiple, varied, and employer-led, and can be:

  • Individual, or a group/class-based activity
  • In person or virtual (although virtual activities shouldn’t entirely replace in-person activities)

Read more about this expectation in the DfE's careers guidance (under 'Benchmark 6: experiences of workplaces').

KS4

Could be with more