Work Experience
Work Experience is a key component of our curriculum at Kensington Aldridge Academy. Our goal is that as many of our students as possible obtain work experience placements which will help them to develop a more realistic view of adult working life and its responsibilities. In researching and seeking out a placement for themselves, we aim to enhance their maturity, communication and levels of independence, better enabling them to seek further study or employment upon leaving KAA.
We are always looking for new community partners. If you might be interested, please get in touch with Ellen Weaver, our Careers Coordinator, to discuss ideas by emailing e.weaver@kaa.org.uk.
Year 10 work experience
All Year 10 students will undertake a work experience placement for 5 days. This year’s work experience is from Monday 10th July – Friday 14th July 2023. Should you have any enquiries or suggestions, or to request a copy of the form, please do not hesitate to contact Ellen Weaver on e.weaver@kaa.org.uk.
Key documents for students:
Year 12 work experience
All Year 12 students are encouraged to find a work experience placement throughout the academic year, and to fall within school holidays. KAA works with ‘Access Aspiration’ to offer networking events with a range of professionals and high quality work placements. Work experience opportunities and summer schools are also advertised throughout the year by our Careers Coordinator, Adam Thompson. He is available to assist students in making speculative applications and preparing for interviews. Over the past two years, students have gained placements with employers such as: Deloitte, Twitter, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, QPR, Guys and St Thomas Hospital.
Sixth Form lecture series
Students also benefit from our sixth form lecture series, aimed at broadening students’ horizons and providing an insight into the world of work. Previous speakers have included: Baroness Shami Chakrabarti, shadow Attorney General and former director of Liberty; Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London; Jonny Ohlson, CEO of Touchwood Genetics; Sharon White, Chairman at John Lewis; Adolfo Perez Esquivel, Nobel Peace Prize winner; and subject-specific speakers from Oxford, Cambridge, KCL, UCL and Imperial.
Ongoing work experience opportunities
Students in Years 10-13 are free to organise their own ongoing work experience placements which may take place in the holidays throughout the year, though we would encourage students in years 11 and 13 to leave the Easter holidays free for revision.
Other Opportunities
In additional to the traditional work experience placement offered at the end of the year, we encourage our students to take up a range of opportunities offered to them throughout the year. We have included a selection of these below.
Goldman Sachs ‘Make Things Possible – A Level Academy’
The Goldman Sachs A Level Academy is a one day event specially focused on financial services. Aimed to showcase careers opportunities in the city, it is structured around interactive case-studies, trading games and hearing people’s personal “day in the life” stories. By spending the day at Goldman Sachs’ London office, students will be able to meet with industry professionals and develop skills to aid their transition from school to university.
The Access Project for Year 12 students
The Access Project is an innovative education charity that helps bright young people from disadvantaged backgrounds gain places at top universities. At Kensington Aldridge Academy, 40 students across years 10, 11, 12 and 13 are currently taking part in the project, which includes admissions test support, work experience, workshops, trips and networking alongside regular mentoring from an academic tutor in a subject of their choice. In February, the Year 10 students will be going on a trip to the University of Oxford, and the Year 12 students to Goldsmiths University of London. Alongside the programme, students also apply for the societies (in medicine, law, dentistry, and Oxbridge), which provide support and advice for those wishing to apply for these competitive pathways.
K+ Widening Participation Programme
K+ is a two-year programme of events, activities and academic workshops which help students with their university applications and provide the skills they need to reach their potential as an undergraduate student. Students who successfully complete the programme receive a reduced offer to study at King’s College London worth up to two A-level grades lower than the standard offer (excluding medicine and dentistry).
One of the highlights of the programme is a free, non-residential programme packed full of exciting activities like: academic tutorials with a King’s PhD tutor; information sessions on university applications, personal statements, and student finance; tours and study time in the King’s libraries; group challenges and competitions; and fun social activities.
Chicago Booth Business School Programme
The Chicago Booth insight is a one-day programme of events, introducing students the field of economics and taking them on a journey from soft skills and networking to strategy and game theory. The programme is a perfect opportunity for students to familiarise themselves with both the demands of higher education and that of the working world. Described as ‘inspiring’ and ‘jaw dropping’ by KAA’s students who attend this year, it is in no doubt a fun insight into the world of business.
Barclays Pilot Work Experience
In February 2020, KAA piloted a partnership with Barclays Life Skills to introduce a three-day work experience at Barclays’ Canary Wharf office. Twelve of KAA’s students took part, working closely with their designated ‘Business Bank’ relationship managers. From demystifying banking to shadowing Private, Corporate and Investment banking, these students have developed key skills and opened the door to a career at Barclays. We replicated this again in February 2021 (albeit online this time!) with a further dozen of our sixth formers, and look forward to our third series in 2022.
Feedback from Previous Work Experience Placements
“Daniel was well-behaved, very punctual, and inquisitive.” – Jessica Frimpong-Manso, Learning and Development Manager, North West London Collaboration of Clinical Commissioning Groups
“We received plenty of advance notice to ensure all was arranged” – Gavin Lineyage, NICEIC Electrical Qualifying Supervisor, Notting Hill Genesis
“Exemplary. The students were polite, helpful and proactive: an absolute credit to KAA.” – Claire Silver, Deputy Head, Oxford Gardens Primary School
“Ahmed joined us at a busy time and jumped straight into work with no issues at all. He was a massive help to the team. It would have been great if we had him for longer!” – Richard Heathcote, Office Manager, Panacea Applications Limited
“The contact with both the student and the school was very proactive and organized.” – Emma Kennedy, Grenfell Outreach Manager, NHS Grenfell Outreach Team, Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
“Both the students were incredibly eager to take as much as they could from the placement, and approached each task with gusto. Punctuality was brilliant across the board” – Beth Warin, Development Assistant, Dancing Ledge Productions
“Cole was very punctual to all organised sessions, which was great. He set a great example for the school with his behaviour and enthusiasm for the placement.” – Megan Smith, Employability Coordinator, Queens Park Rangers FC Community Trust
“Great communication with the school and lovely students who were very keen to learn everything. I am happy to work with students from KAA!” – Fiona Liu, British Red Cross
Previous Employers
The employers below are among those that assisted our students by giving them a placement over the last few years that we have introduced work experience at KAA. We thank them all for their support!
Avondale Park Primary School
Barlby Primary School
Boots
British Red Cross
Chana Chemist
Charville Academy
Cowell Group (Abbey Road Estates Limited)
Dancing Ledge Productions
GVA
John Lewis, Westfield
Just Castings
Kensington Central Library
Lancaster West Neighbourhood Team
The MCHC Trust
Meininger Hotels
NHS North West London CCGS
NHS North West London CCB
NHS Grenfell Outreach Team, Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
Notting Hill Genesis HA
Oxford Gardens Primary School
Panacea Applications Limited
Place2Be
RBKC
The Rugby Portobello Trust
Queens Park Rangers FC Community Trust
Shepherd’s Bush Library
Sky
St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary School
St Mary of the Angels Primary School
Swedish Smile Clinic
Tate Britain
WorkZone
