An ambitious national plan to reinvent work experience for
schoolchildren is to be tested in the Liverpool City
Region.
The equalex pilot will test a new framework to improve work
experience for every pupil. It replaces the traditional two-week
block with multiple experiences totalling 10 days throughout
secondary education.
Several prominent city region employers – including Jaguar Land
Rover, Knowledge Quarter Liverpool, NHS England, Atkins Realis,
Keepmoat, Kimpton and Unilever – are interested in supporting the
pilot, along with small and medium-sized businesses, and 12
schools.
The work experiences will be aimed at filling skills gaps and
equipping local children for tech jobs in the city region's
pioneering Life Sciences Innovation Zone.
The pilot is one of four across England, each testing a different
part of the new model, before the project is scaled up to allow
for national roll-out.
Mayor of the Liverpool City Region said:
“Work experience is a vital part of a young person's
education, helping to equip them with the knowledge, confidence,
and skills they need for their future careers.
“But for too long, too many pupils have missed out on
meaningful opportunities – leaving them at a disadvantage when
they take their first steps into the world of work. That has to
change.
“I'm delighted that our region has been chosen to help lead
the way on this innovative pilot. By giving schoolchildren real
experience in some of our fastest-growing industries – like tech
and our expanding Life Sciences Innovation Zone – we're not just
equipping them with the skills for the jobs of the future, we're
making sure those opportunities are open to everyone, no matter
their background.”
The government removed statutory requirement for schools to
deliver work experience in England in 2012.
Since then, schools have struggled to prioritise placements and
participation levels have dropped. It is accepted across the
sector that only about 50% of young people have work
experience.
The equalex pilot has been developed by The Careers and
Enterprise Company (CEC), the national body for careers
education, and supported by Careers Hubs. It is a multi-year,
multi-experience model supported by the curriculum and open to
all learners.
The tiered approach provides a breadth and depth of workplace
experiences totalling ten days throughout secondary education.
The pilot is one of four national trials – including Greater
Manchester, West Midlands and West Yorkshire – with each testing
a separate aspect.
In the city region, the initiative will target the key growth
sectors of Advanced Manufacturing, Digital and Creative, and
Health and Life Sciences.
It will run in partnership with the LCR Careers Hub at no cost to
the schools involved.
Modern work experience should be flexible in terms of
length and will run across Key Stage 3 and 4. Key stage 3 covers
the first three years of secondary school, while Key Stage 4
covers the final two years.
This will give students the chance to make informed choices and
gain work experience before and after making GCSE options
The project will also examine the challenges faced by employers
in providing work experience and look for ways to support and
inspire businesses to take part.
Oli de Botton, CEO of The Careers & Enterprise
Company said:
“We are thrilled to be working with the Liverpool City Region
to launch a new work experience pilot for young people in the
area. The approach means that learners from ages 11-14 will
access the region's fast-growing industries over 10 days' worth
of high-quality experiences. Our goal is to ensure that all young
people, particularly those who are currently missing out, can
gain the experiences that help them get ready to thrive in the
future.”
Notes to editors
About the Careers & Enterprise Company
- The Careers & Enterprise Company (CEC) is the national
body for careers education in England, supporting schools and
colleges to deliver modern, 21st century careers education. Our
mission is to help every young person find their best next
step.
- CEC has a network of 44 Careers Hubs across England covering
95% of all schools and has a network of 429 Cornerstone employers
and over 4,100 business volunteers.
About equalex
Developed by the CEC and supported by Careers Hubs, the equalex
approach offers:
- A framework of structured learning outcomes to raise the
quality of work experience for learners
- A multi-year, multi-experience model supported by the
curriculum and accessible to all learners.
- A tiered approach providing a structure offering breadth and
depth of workplace experiences.
Current levels of work experience:
According to CEC: 69% of schools delivered workplace experiences
with employers last year (meeting Gatsby standard for year 11,
although not necessarily two weeks)
According to the 2023 Youth Voice Census, only 29.2% of young
people in secondary school had access to work experience in the
last 12 months. And 52.3% of those who were offered work
experience were able to complete it.
According to Speakers for Schools, 1/3 of teenagers aged 16-18
had work experience, and only 50% of 14–16-year-olds did.
