A great work experience placement can set a student apart in UCAS applications. We want all students to have the opportunity to experience the world of work, and be able to reflect on what career sector might suit their interests and skills. In recent years we have had some highly successful placements at leading companies such as the BMJ and TT asset management.
In support of this, we provide two opportunities for students to gain work experience during their time at Highbury Grove, once in Year 10 and then again in Year 12.
We strongly encourage all students to source a work experience placement in an industry they are interested in by exploring friends and family connections or by approaching companies directly.
To start this process, Work Experience assemblies are delivered in Term 1 by The Academy Careers Leader, Ms James.
All Year 10 and 12 students will receive support to secure a work experience placement by the Academy Work Experience Coordinator, Mr Gomes. He works alternatively between COLAHG and COLAI and is onsite every Monday and Tuesday, and then alternate Wednesdays. He can contacted by email at cgomes@highburygrove.cola.org.uk
Work experience for Year 10 and Year 12 takes place between Monday 14 – Friday 18 July 2025.
We are using Unifrog to coordinate communication between home, school and the work experience placement. All parents and carers can expect to receive information about their child’s work experience placement via email.
We will continue to promote opportunities and share information with parents, carers and students via the website, google classroom and Unirforg.
Key dates and information:
- Year 12 students need to have confirmed their placement by Monday 27 January. All placement information needs to be logged on Unifrog by Friday 14 February 2025.
- Year 10 students need to have confirmed their placement by Tuesday 25 February 2025. The deadline for information below to be uploaded on Unifrog is Wednesday 5 March 2025.
| Information students will need to upload on Unifrog: | |
| Name of placement/organisation | |
| Placement start & end date | Monday 14 July – Friday 18 July 2025 |
| Employer placement lead: name | |
| Employer placement lead: email | |
| Additional information required | |
| Make sure you a prepared to summarise your objective for a placement in a sentence. For example: “To develop leadership skills by working with groups of young people” “To understand the roles and responsibilities of a kitchen assistant” “To know what a typical working week looks like for a solicitor” | |
For any other tips and tricks, please rerefer to our Work Experience Parent Handbook.