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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
  1. Requirements
  2. 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