ABSTRACT
Work placement schemes are regularly used by schools to provide pupils with opportunities to gain experience of the world of work. Most schools use these work placement schemes for many or all of their pupils in Years 9, 10 and 11. Evidence shows that the use of specific or extended periods of work placement can often be particularly beneficial for less-able and/or disaffected pupils. One scheme in the northeast of England, for example, found that disaffected pupils (including truants) turned up early for work, attended normally and made extremely good progress when placed within the Built Environment department of local FE colleges, acting as, for instance, apprentice bricklayers. Similar schemes have reported success throughout the UK with both boys and girls.
