Students get a taste of the world of work (From Swindon Advertiser)

Students get a taste of the world of work

2:00pm Thursday 9th February 2012 in News By Emma Dunn

IT MAY be one of the most challenging times to find a job, but pupils at St Luke’s School have been getting a helping hand from employers across the town.

Year 10 and 11 pupils from the school, which is for children with behavioural, emotional and social difficulties, have been taking part in work placements for one day a week to get them used to the world of work.

Twelve students have been taking part this year and it is thought that at least one of them may already have a job lined up as a result.

Tas Stamatopoulos, the faculty head for careers and progression, said: “The employers help them see the relevance between school and work. It reminds them what the point is of going to school.

“A teacher can tell you all you want to know but it helps hearing it from the employers themselves.

“Some of the kids are on the verge of being offered a job.

“We have got one in particular who is going to take up the next vacancy.

“It doesn’t happen often but with some of them, from nowhere, they end up leaving school with a job.”

Employers taking part in the scheme include Alan Watkins Motors, KDM Garage, The Rat Trap, Pilgrim Centre, Asda Walmart and Manor Solutions computers.

Students have also been taking part in placements with Maidenhead Aquatics, Holmes Music, Swindon Town Football Club and the Swindon Wildcats.

“We want to say a big thank you to all the employers because they are giving us their time,” said Mr Stamatopoulos.

“These employers are making sure that when the children leave school, they have got a clear idea what the expectations are in the workplace like turning up on time and how they speak to customers.”

The students take part in courses with a pre-16 team at Swindon College one day a week and their placements were chosen according to the subjects they are studying there.