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Work Experience
Learning Beyond the Classroom
Work placements, part-time jobs, volunteering, and shadowing professionals are excellent ways for young people to explore future careers. At Chiltern Hills Academy, we believe that real-world experience helps students grow in confidence, develop skills, and make informed decisions about their next steps.
In Year 12, every student completes one week of work experience. This is a valued part of Sixth Form life and an opportunity to gain insight into the world of work while building skills that will stay with you for life.
Where Our Students Go
Our students have enjoyed placements in a wide range of industries, including:
- Mechanical Engineering
- Veterinary and Animal Care
- Healthcare and Social Care
- Technology and Digital Media
- Finance and Business
- Fashion and Retail
- Film, Theatre and Creative Arts
- Charities and Community Organisations
From local businesses to world-class companies such as Pinewood Studios, these experiences give our students a valuable head start in the workplace.
Why Work Experience Matters
Work experience provides benefits that go far beyond one week:
- Career Exploration – try out a role and see if it’s right for you.
- Skill Development – build teamwork, communication, time management, and problem-solving skills.
- Confidence Boost – learn new skills and discover strengths you didn’t know you had.
- Future Opportunities – stand out when applying for university, apprenticeships, or jobs.
Principal Insight
We believe that work experience contributes not just to employability, but also to students’ personal, social, moral, and cultural development. It shows them the real-world relevance of what they are learning in school.
Support for Students
Finding the right placement can feel challenging, but we provide resources and guidance every step of the way:
- Tips from Unifrog – watch this 2-minute video on finding work experience
- Application Support – advice on writing CVs and covering letters
- Step-by-Step Guides – practical resources on how to apply for placements successfully
Use this guide to understand what to include in your letter and application process:
Exploring Future Careers
Work experience placements give students the chance to experience professional environments, develop key employability skills and gain a deeper understanding of different career sectors. Here are some examples of the opportunities our students have undertaken.
Behind the Scenes at Pinewood Studios
This placement provided valuable insight into the creative and technical roles involved in film and television production, helping students understand how teamwork, innovation and attention to detail bring major projects to life.
Hands-On Veterinary Experience
Working alongside veterinary professionals gave students an opportunity to explore animal care in a real-world setting, developing their understanding of responsibility, communication and the skills required within the veterinary profession.
Engineering in Action
This placement offered a practical introduction to the world of engineering, allowing students to experience how problem-solving, technical knowledge and teamwork are applied to real projects and challenges.
Caring for the Community
Through working within a community-focused environment, students gained a greater appreciation of the importance of empathy, service and supporting the wellbeing of others while developing valuable interpersonal skills.
Exploring Fashion & Retail
This experience provided an insight into the fast-paced world of fashion and retail, helping students understand areas such as customer service, merchandising, teamwork and the day-to-day operations of a successful business.