Work experience...

I'm sure most people remember the work experience they did whilst at school. I personally worked in a vet's surgery: cleaning out very sick animals (not generally a nice job), bathing very sick animals (not generally a nice job), walking dogs (a nice job unless it's pouring down with rain) and assisting in some gruesome surgery (not generally a nice job, but an interesting one nevertheless.)

Over the past week I have been visiting my students on their work experience placements. Each year it's the same - a big list of students and their details are displayed in the staffroom. Staff then sign up against the students they would like to visit, approx 3 per member of staff usually. The boards are usually busy on the morning of day one as people hurry to bag the easy going, hard working pupils who are least likely to be getting up to mischief or, worse, getting the sack from their 'job' and having to come into school instead.

The visits make for an interesting couple of weeks. I remember seeing one student a few years ago who was on placement at a hotel which specialises in dancing. She was quite into dancing and the performing arts herself and had therefore thought this placement would suit her. What she didn't realise was that the guests were mainly in the 60+ age category. This wasn't a disaster in itself, however, and wasn't what made her greet me in floods of tears as I arrived at the door.

The girl in question had been given the 'housekeeping' department to work with. Unfortunately for her that meant her colleagues were all Portuguese and didn't really speak much English. She, of course, didn't know so much as a word of Portuguese and spent all her time in silence making beds and cleaning every piece of glass they could find for her to polish. I had left it until 10 days into the 2 week placement to visit her as I knew she was responsible and hard working, so I never expected a problem. Unfortunately her politeness meant that she hadn't wanted to ring school to say that she was very unhappy. Thankfully as a result of my visit I managed to get her out of housekeeping and onto reception, then into the kitchen so her last few days were somewhat happier. Poor girl.

2 years ago I went to a salon to see a girl who was convinced that hairdressing was the career for her. For some reason best known to myself I booked myself a hair appointment and thought I'd let the pupil concerned dry it (don't worry - I wasn't stupid enough to let her take the scissors to my locks!) When I arrived I decided I would let her wash it too, even though she hadn't had much experience of washing during her few days at the salon. She had been mainly sweeping up and making coffees. I had felt a bit sorry for her as I knew she would like to be more 'hands-on.' I lent back and relaxed... until the water started running uncontrollably down my neck. My ears were handled quite roughly and as shampoo trickled into my eyes I started to count the minutes till the water torture was over. Eventually (because it takes a long time to wash hair when you don't know what you're doing) I escaped and a qualified woman came and did the cut while I began to dread the blow dry. Thankfully when it came to this part the student and another girl shared, taking half my head each and that wasn't too bad. I did resolve not to repeat this experience again with future salon placements however!

Then there was the time I went to a primary school to visit an 'interesting' pupil who had been somewhat unreliable and lazy in school. Most students who are of this disposition tend to rise to the challenge though, and tend to leave that element of immaturity behind, at least for those 2 weeks. This girl was an exception to this rule. She decided that the most 'fun' thing for her to do was to encourage the primary children to misbehave. She did some teaching but it was mainly about how to be naughty and get away with it! I arrived to find a disgruntled class teacher who asked me to 'have a word.' I dragged her off into the furthest part of the playground and told her to buck up in no uncertain terms.

I should say that there aren't too many incidents like these and most placements go according to plan. The pupils normally behave well and gain excellent reports from their employers. This past week I have received nothing but glowing reports for the 5 students I have visited. 2 were at an infant school and I arrived on 'book day' where all the children and staff were in fancy dress as characters from books. A member of my tutor group who is 15 and approaching 6ft went as the giant from Jack and the Beanstalk. I'm intrigued to know whether he will confess this to his classmates on his return to school. I was very proud of the way he has thrown himself into everything though. He has also gained himself a fan in the shape of a little blonde girl who was follows him around everywhere. Bless.

Today I went to the Haven Hotel in Sandbanks to see one pupil working in the restaurant and one in the leisure club. Again both had been learning plenty and received very good reports. The commonest complaint from most students is that their feet ache from standing up all day and they are very tired having to work till five rather than going home at 3.30. Welcome to the real world! (Yes, we teachers DO work beyond the bell at the end of the final lesson...!)

This year there has again been the odd boy or girl who has refused to conform, not that I have had to deal with them myself for once. I know of one who decided before even trying a placement at a leisure centre that it was going to be 'boring.' He tried voting with his feet but changed his mind when he realised the alternative was working in isolation at school. There was another who walked out of his placement, again because he said it was 'boring.' Some students definitely feel we are on the planet to keep them entertained and no doubt will struggle when they realise that people really do work for a living. Unfortunately these particular pupils have plenty of growing up to do and it wasn't going to happen for them over the past 2 weeks.

I suppose the sad truth is that some leave school and still don't realise how hard working life can be. We can only be sure that we are giving each pupil every opportunity to experience a slice of real life during these 2 weeks. So whether it's being on your feet all day in a hair salon, mucking out horses for hours or serving stroppy customers they can have a memorable 2 weeks which many will remember for the rest of their lives, just as we do.