Brookes Bridges work experience

The Oxford Community School – Brookes link: overview

The proposed project is founded on the notion that devising work experience packages that cater for batches of pupils, all starting and finishing at about the same time, all working broadly to the same formula, and preceded by a group induction is both a workable solution to the challenge that schools face to respond to increased work experience entitlement, and helps Brookes achieve its strategic objectives.

The project team consulted with teachers to plan an approach to work experience provision that is new, rich in development opportunities on both sides, and may work as a model to offer to other schools and colleges.

On the Oxford Community School side, the requirements are:

work placements for 30 children studying for vocational qualifications related to Hospitality, IT and Business AND
work shadowing for 10 children on a range of “special” packages at school, some of whom may attend with their Learning Support Assistants

(See appendix 1 for information on OCS requirements)

From the University side, Brookes plans:

to agree to establish 40 placements of 20 + weeks duration (1 day per week only) across the university
to hold an “Induction week ” in October (11-13) for the 40 pupils, that will involve them in work- and Brookes- focused sessions and prepare them for going into the workplace for the work experience phase of the project

(see appendix 2 for information about draft timings and content for induction week)

to place each student in a department or office for work experience, and assign them a supervisor or mentor there for the duration
to support each work experience placement through training of Brookes staff (if required), provision of a “workbook” for learners to work through and to assist them to make best use of their time; a “helpline” facility for Brookes’ staff that will provide support and guidance about running the placement and that links directly back to the school if problems arise

In addition and to build trust between the parents of the schoolchildren and Brookes, the School wants to host an Introduction evening (September 2005). This would take the form of a presentation from Brookes followed by questions and general discussion and would be an excellent way of raising awareness of Brookes in the community as well as being directly supportive of the proposed partnership.