Work Experience
Transition Year Work Experience Dates for 2025/2026 are as follows -
Block 1
23 February – 6 March 2026
Students must complete a blue ‘work experience job card’ with company details
These are available in hard copy only from outside the TY office
Block 2
18 – 29 May 2026
Students must complete a blue ‘work experience job card’ with company details
These are available in hard copy only from outside the TY office
INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN TO STUDENTS
Our students are expected to approach the whole work experience placement with a high level of maturity. After the placement is finished, they are required to submit a report that contains the following:
- Clear reasons for choosing a particular placement or career field
- An outline (including CV, correspondence, etc.) of how the placement was secured
- A reflective day to day diary of their experience
- An evaluation report completed by their employer (optional)
- An overall evaluation on their experiences
Other Work Experience
Students are encouraged to organise their work experience placements for the two designated blocks in Feb/Mar and May.
During these dates, there are no classes scheduled for TY students and they are expected to use this time for work experience and career related investigation and preparation.
However, there are a number of TY placements that occur outside of these designated periods. Should a student wish to take part in a course outside of the work experience slots, they should complete a white ‘Other Work Experience’ form in hard copy only, available outside the TY office. Such placements will need approval from form teachers and the TY coordinator or Year Head.
Other Learning Opportunities
In cases where a student wishes to complete a language course or other educational opportunity during term time, an orange ‘Other Learning Opportunities’ form must be completed, available in hard copy only outside the TY office. Such placements will need approval from form teachers and the TY coordinator or Year Head.
Guidelines for Employers
The benefit that a student derives from work experience depends upon their motivation and communication with their ‘employer’ both before and during the time they spend on their placement. We encourage our students to view their work experience as a mixture of elements:
- Work experience: actually carrying out tasks and duties that this career involves
- Work shadowing: accompanying someone during a day’s work and asking questions, receiving explanations, etc
- Work observations: passively watching an adult whilst they are engaged in their work
Ideally a placement includes a balance of these activities within the constraints of the job and workplace. Of course, a work experience placement not only informs our students about specific career possibilities, but it should also give them an insight into the workplace as a whole. We expect our students to appreciate and observe the culture of your work environment; dress codes, timekeeping, behaviour and general attitude and application are important.
INSURANCE CONSIDERATIONS
St Andrew’s College views Work Experience Placement as an integral part of the Transition Year Programme and as such it is a school activity covered by our school insurance policy. The insurance letter is available on request to skavanagh@st-andrews.ie.