Project Description

Industry: A broad range of Sector Involvement
Programme: Lochgelly HS Work Experience Week
Activity: Work Experience Placements
Businesses: Over 50 Local Employers/Businesses
Name of School: Lochgelly High School   

Lochgelly High School partnered with DYW Fife and more than 50 local employers to deliver a structured Work Experience Week for Senior Phase learners. Across S5 and S6, 69 pupils completed placements for at least two days, typically 10:00–15:00. The week provided tangible workplace experience while reinforcing core behaviours—timekeeping, politeness, and communication—so that learners returned to school with clearer expectations of professional standards and pathways. 

 

Objectives 

• Enable every Senior Phase learner to engage directly with a local business through a meaningful placement. 

• Strengthen employability by practising professional behaviours (timekeeping, communication, teamwork) in real settings. 

• Make clear links between school subjects and workplace applications to inform post-school choices. 

• Increase motivation and confidence to pursue positive destinations, including part-time work alongside continued study. 

Why employers got involved: to meet and inspire future talent, strengthen the local skills pipeline, contribute to community engagement/CSR, and identify potential candidates for part-time roles, apprenticeships, or further experience. 

 

Learners involved 

S5–S6 Senior Phase; 69 pupils completed placements of 2+ days during the week (10:00–15:00). 

 

What we did 

Pre-placement preparation (in school) 

Learners selected or were matched to placements aligned to interests/subjects where possible; expectations on conduct, timekeeping, and communication were set; risk assessments and safeguarding completed. 

Work Experience Week (placements) 

Pupils volunteered time with host businesses, observing and assisting with day-to-day tasks; they interacted with professionals across a range of industries, building sector awareness and confidence. 

Post-placement reflection (in class) 

Learners captured what they did, the skills used/developed, and how subjects map to roles; staff recorded attendance and employer feedback to inform next steps.  

 Feedback 

(Employer perspective) Team Challenge: “Lewis was polite, hardworking and researched the business beforehand.” 

 

(Employer perspective) Purvis: “The young man who visited us from Lochgelly High School was very polite and was an example for young people.”