Dunhurst Pupils Learn from Local Businesses

Dunhurst Pupils Learn from Local Businesses

16/09/2009

Pupils from Dunhurst, Bedales prep school, have spent a day work shadowing in local businesses, ranging from shops (Owens Cycles) farms (Butser Ancient Farm), garages (Petersfield Tyre and Exhaust Services) and construction companies (Casmin Construction).

The scheme is run by Dunhurst School for its 12 and 13 year old pupils. School children normally start work experience when they are 15 or 16 years old – with a specific career focus. However, the work shadowing day at Dunhurst aims to provide a different experience. The scheme, now in its seventh year, builds on interpersonal skills and confidence in unfamiliar situations, and gives pupils a greater understanding of the world outside school.

Each pupil is assigned an employee and four weeks in advance of the day, they are told where they are going. Responsibility is then handed over to the pupils: they must contact the organisation, introduce themselves to the person they will be work shadowing, find out the hours of work and if they need to wear certain clothes. If they wish, they can also arrange to visit the organisation.

Dunhurst Teacher Louise Banks explains:

‘Some of the pupils are apprehensive but we make sure we give them the support they need. They are young but this is an important time in their lives – they are starting to make sense of the world around them and the day gives them an invaluable insight into every day life in the wider community. They enjoy rising to the challenge and have the enthusiasm at that age to make the most of the day.’

Preparations include discussions about suitable clothing, body language, conversational skills and manners. Older children from Bedales who have experienced the work shadowing scheme come to Dunhurst to offer the younger children their advice – as do parents.

Louise continues:

‘The school has a tradition of encouraging children to be confident in the presence of adults. Work shadowing teaches the pupils why manners are also important and gives them valuable survival tools for integrating into society. We’ve since had some very positive feedback from employers which shows that this is paying off. ’

Thirteen-year old Freddie spent the day at Tesco in Petersfield and said:

"I found it very interesting: it helped me understand the meaning of work and what tasks people undertake when they take up work."

Afterwards pupils shared their learning and the whole school watched a video of the day, filmed and edited by two Year 8 girls; pupils also wrote ‘thank you’ letters to the organisations involved.

The main photo shows Olivia (13 years old) at Haslemere Framers.

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