• Date: Tuesday 8th – Wednesday 9th July 2025
• Year Group: Year 10
• Focus: Raising aspirations through meaningful career exploration
• Benchmark: Gatsby Benchmark 6 – Experiences of workplaces

The Purpose of Work Experience Week

Work Experience Week is designed to help Year 10 students explore meaningful career pathways and develop the mindset and life skills needed for success. By engaging with real employers and experiencing genuine workplace environments, students gain valuable insight into the world of work and the possibilities open to them.

This week’s events aimed to:

• Raise aspirations ahead of Year 11 and Post-16 decisions
• Encourage teamwork, communication, and problem-solving
• Support career planning through hands-on experience

Fulfil Gatsby Benchmark 6: Providing experience of the workplace

Tuesday 8th July – Costco Croydon Visit

Eight Year 10 students visited Costco Croydon, where they had the opportunity to:

• Work on the shop floor and tills
• Engage directly with members of the public
• Learn about retail operations, customer service, and teamwork

Thank-you to Costco for welcoming our students so warmly and providing such a valuable experience.

Student shout-outs:

⭐ Edwin and Jake stood out for their excellent work ethic and enthusiasm.

⭐ Maisie showed incredible interpersonal skills while supporting customers.

These students were a real credit to our school and returned full of energy and pride in their achievements!

 

Wednesday 9th July – TrustFord Dagenham Visit

 

Our second visit took students to TrustFord Dagenham, where they:

• Observed and supported professionals working in automotive services
• Learned about car diagnostics, servicing, and customer relations
• Explored technical roles that connect to STEM and vocational career routes

This experience opened students’ eyes to industries they hadn’t previously considered, and gave them confidence in exploring hands-on, skilled careers.

 

Thank-you to TrustfFord for welcoming our students so warmly and providing such a valuable experience. What Our Students Said: “I didn’t realise how many people and roles it takes to keep a business running. It’s made me think differently about what I might do after school.” — Year 10 student after the Costco visit “It was so cool seeing how cars are fixed and how much goes into the customer service side as well.” — Year 10 student after the TrustFord visit Looking Ahead These real-world encounters are more than just trips—they are stepping stones toward ambitious futures. As students move into Year 11, we are confident that this week’s experiences will help shape their goals, focus their studies, and inform their choices for post16 pathways. Thank you to all staff, students, and employer partners who helped make Work Experience Week such a valuable and inspiring experience. A huge thank you to Monique, George and Richard taking the students to and from the different locations over the two days.