Year 12 Work Experience
At the beginning of June, Year 12 students at Little Heath School took part in their annual Work Experience week. This is an important part of Sixth Form life, giving students the chance to step away from lessons and spend time in a real workplace. Each year, students organise their own placements in areas that interest them including education and healthcare to business, creative industries, engineering, and more.
This year’s students took on an impressive variety of roles. We caught up with a few students once they returned and this is what we learnt about their experiences!
Zuzanna joined Orion Biogenics as a research assistant, gaining experience in research skills, data analysis, and time management. The most challenging part for her was “finding the data and analysing it,” but by the end of the week she had built both her confidence and her abilities. She admitted to feeling “a bit stressed out” before her first day but left with a better understanding of her strengths.
Her advice to future students is simple: “Try to find something that you think you’re passionate about.”
Poppy worked with Bracknell Forest Council’s Climate Change Team, contributing to projects that developed her teamwork, leadership, communication, and resilience. The toughest part was creating questions for a public engagement stall, but she described the thrill of seeing visitors actually use them. “I was really nervous to travel there and go into a completely new workplace,” she explained, “but by the last day I felt comfortable and proud of what I had achieved.”
Her advice to the next cohort of Year 12 students? “Get it sorted early! It’s much easier as the start of Year 12 is busy.”
Anya split her week across several placements, including Manor Primary School, where she developed adaptability as her main new skill. “Being organised and prepared for anything” was the biggest challenge. She began the week feeling excited and finished it even more so, with the highlight being the assembly she led for a hall full of pupils. While it didn’t completely change her career plans, it confirmed that she enjoys working with people.
Anya would encourage next year’s students to “do something that you think you will enjoy and want to learn more about.”
Work Experience at Little Heath School is designed to help students develop key employability skills, discover new career ideas, and gain confidence in the world beyond school. This year’s group embraced the challenge, and we look forward to seeing how their experiences shape their future plans.