Letter to Parents, 28 November 2012 - Smithdon High School ...

Smithdon High School
Mr J M Goodchild, MA, B Ed(Hons), Cert Ed
Headmaster
Downs Road, Hunstanton
Norfolk PE36 5HY
Telephone: 01485 534541 Fax : 01485 535251
e-mail: office@smithdon.norfolk.sch.uk
website: www.smithdon.norfolk.sch.uk
Ref: AGo/LT
28 November 2012
Dear Parent or Guardian
Re: Year 10 Work Experience, 8 to 19 July 2013
The Preference Forms which I have received have all been checked and the students are ready to move to
the next stage in the process to secure a placement with an employer of their choice. Please note that all
student Work Experience Preference forms should have been handed in by Friday 26 October.
We realise that many students have already been very pro-active in contacting various placements and may
already have received verbal confirmation from individual employers of placement offers within their
businesses. However, it is now necessary to secure the placement by asking employers to complete and sign
the enclosed WEX1 form. Students must return these to Mrs Godfrey by Monday 17 December.
When completed forms are returned all placements will be checked by Mrs Godfrey and forwarded to NWES
WoW who will confirm that all Health & Safety practices are in place for the student to take up the placement
in July 2013. Any business which has not been previously used by our students (or recently) will be contacted
and visited by NWES WoW.
During the first part of this term, Year 10 Form Tutors have been helping their students to compile their
individual CV’s on U-Explore. As there is a real possibility this year that some employers could be approached
by several students, we suggest that students make use of their CV and hand it to their chosen employer with
the WEX1 form. This will provide the employer with individual student details so that they can contact them if
they wish to invite them for an interview or see them again. Please encourage your son or daughter to hand
their CV to the employer with the WEX1 form.
This year we have tried to make the process as realistic as possible so that our students understand the steps
to take when applying for jobs in the future. Many of the employers we use have commented that they have
already received lots of enquiries from our students and some have already interviewed and spoken to those
who have been really pro-active in their search for a placement. Some employers have said that they will be
discouraged from giving placements to students when they are contacted by a parent or carer instead of the
student.
Employers will be impressed by students who approach them personally. It gives them a chance to
see the person who is asking for a placement. If that impression is a good one….the student stands
more chance of being made an offer.
Green Pathway Students:
All students who are currently at work placements on a Thursday will undertake their two weeks’ Work
Experience with their current employer. Mrs Godfrey will arrange for the completion of the forms with those
employers. She will also speak to any student who will be undertaking their work experience with a different
employer to their current placement. It is not necessary for any student on a work placement to do anything
else at this point in time.

Applications to RAF Marham:
I have enclosed a Student Information Sheet for the students who are applying for a placement at RAF
Marham. These should be completed and returned to Mrs Godfrey by Friday 7 December. I have also
enclosed Job Descriptions for the different sections offered for Work Experience at RAF Marham next year to
help students with their selection. The hand written letter of application requested by RAF Marham will be
prepared in school. Once completed, the form and letter will be sent to RAF Marham for further processing.
Outstanding Returns:
Students who have yet to return their Preference or Parental Consent forms should now do so without delay.
Failure to do so could mean that they do not secure their first choice of placement. Those students who have
ticked the box on their Preference Form requesting help with finding a placement and have yet to see Mrs
Godfrey should do so as soon as possible. Any student who needs help or advice can still see Mrs Godfrey at
lunch time on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday of any week. If any parent or carer needs help with their son
or daughter’s application please contact Mrs Godfrey.
Thank you very much for your continued support and your help with this process.
Yours sincerely
A Godfrey
Mrs A Godfrey
Work Related Learning Co-ordinator
E-mail: agodfrey26rb@nsix.org.uk
H Johnson
Miss H Johnson
Teacher i/c Work Related Learning