DBS checks: work experience students

Understand when work experience students need a DBS check, the level of check needed and who is responsible for carrying out the checks.

Last reviewed on 30 May 2025See updates

School types: All•School phases: All•Ref: 11874

Contents

Requirements
Responsibility for checks

This article outlines the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check requirements for:

Students or pupils taking part in work experience at your school/trust
Making arrangements for your pupils to do work experience at another school/trust

Requirements

You can't carry out DBS checks on children under the age of 16.

If a work experience student is 16 or older and is:

In regulated activity – they'll need an enhanced DBS check with a barred list check
Not in regulated activity – you can consider an enhanced DBS check but not a barred list check

This is set out in paragraph 337 of Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) 2025.

The DfE has confirmed to us that pupils doing work experience in a school, who are supervised and not left alone with young children for long periods of time, won't need an enhanced DBS check.

Use this online tool to decide what level of

Requirements

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