There are so many different jobs and careers you can do. There are even more pathways to get there. This can either be exciting or terrifying, depending how you feel about your future. Don’t worry! On this section of the website, we have lots of information, links and videos to help you start to think about your future.

Labour Market Information

Getting started with your Post-16 applications

Your options to study Post-16

Apprenticeships and Traineeship Post-16

Armed Forces Careers Post-16

HE and Student Finance

The following career websites are good for helping you decide on a career, researching jobs, producing a CV and covering letter and much more:
 

To apply for a job, you’ll need a CV. Complete the form below to build and download a CV which you can use to apply for roles at Co-op and other organisations.
cvbuilder.coop.co.uk

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National Career Service. For Careers advice, job profiles, information, resources and more. 
nationalcareers.service.gov.uk

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From accountants to zookeepers, get a first-hand view of jobs and ideas for your future.
icould.com

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Whether you’re deciding what to study, taking your exams, planning a career, or just curious, we’re here to explain the world of work, with advice from people who’ve found the right path for them.
bbc.co.uk/bitesize/careers

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Career exploration, jobs & advice. All good. All in one place.

Careersbox is the national careers film library, a free careers resource showing hundreds of real people doing real jobs.
allaboutcareers.com

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Success at School is the place for young people to explore careers, get the lowdown on top employers, and search for the latest jobs, courses and advice.
successatschool.org

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Screenskills is the industry-led skills body for the screen industries – film, television (including children’s, unscripted and high-end), VFX (visual effects), animation and games. We provide insight, career development and other opportunities to help people get into the industry and progress within it.

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barclayslifeskills.com

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Find out more about careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics at STEM.ORG

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The Greater Manchester NHS Careers & Engagement Hub is a recently launched initiative aimed at improving the information and support available to people who are looking for career opportunities in the NHS throughout the region.

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The latest news, advice and guidance to help you land your dream job in the sports industry.
careers-in-sport.co.uk

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With accurate information on over 1400 jobs including live labour market information and a wealth of impartial advice on education and employment choices, eCLIPS helps young people to make informed study and career decisions.

eclips-online.co.uk | LOGIN: coopcareers

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From employment and training opportunities to support with wellbeing, finance, and travel, this one stop shop helps young people find their future in the Salford area. Find my future.

Introduction to Work Experience

Work Experience is a valuable opportunity in helping our students to prepare for the world of work and develop their employability skills. It also provides a sample of potential career pathways, and most importantly, allows the student to gain the independent skills of searching for a job, communicating with employers and fulfilling a role within an organisation.

Year 10 Work Experience will take place on Monday 21st – Friday 25th June 2027. The full process will be explained to parents/carers during the Work Experience Launch Evening in the Autumn term. 

Students are expected to find their own work experience placement with the support of their parent/carer. Each placement will be vetted to ensure the relevant risk assessment and insurance is in place. The health, safety, and wellbeing of our pupils is a priority.   

Details must be entered on Unifrog by 31st January 2027. 

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Parental Work Experience Consent Form and Placement Contact Details

Most pupils find work experience through family and friends.  

If not then you can target local employers by either calling in person, telephoning or writing an email/letter. An example letter can be found Here

Work Experience Form

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FAQs

On what grounds may a placement be rejected?
The employer does not have Public Liability Insurance;
The placement is ‘Out of Area’;
The placement fails a Health and Safety Risk Assessment:;
The placement is outside of the allocated school work experience week;
The placement is outside of school hours.
 

Does the school have any placements at all?
We have a small bank of employers that offer placements each year. Disadvantaged pupils will be given priority to these placements. We do have information on what employers tend to offer placements, so it is always worthwhile to ask a question regarding potential employers for contact details.

What insurance does an employer need to have? 
Under health and safety law, work experience placements are considered the same as any employee position. They are to be treated no differently, in regards to insurance, than any other young person they employ. Existing employers’ liability insurance policy will cover work placements provided the insurer is a member of the Association of British Insurers. Therefore, there is no need to obtain any additional employer’s liability insurance if you take on work experience students. However, a specific young person’s risk assessment will be required if not already in place. Support for Tailored Education will be available for guidance on this. 

All placements must have a valid ELI Insurance to be authorised

What is classed as ‘Out of Area’?
This is a placement where the child is unable to commute from their home address each day. It could also be that it is not within reasonable travelling distance from the school. While on work experience, together with the employer, the school retains responsibility for the welfare of the child while on placement. Therefore, where necessary, we must be able to travel to a child where necessary to ensure their safety. 

Can my child come and work where I work?
If you can offer a placement in your own workplace, we would encourage you to sign up for a 'student exchange'. We are asking parents to swap with other parents who can also offer placements, so the students get a more authentic work experience placement.  

What happens if my child doesn’t find a placement?
If your child is unable to find their own placement, please support them as much as you can by asking friends/family/local businesses etc. Otherwise, your child may be expected to attend school, wearing their full school uniform.

My child has a disability, and I have concerns about their wellbeing on placement, what should I do?
A disability should hold no barrier regarding your child attending a work experience placement. Please ensure that you list the full details of any disability in the placement paperwork. Also, be sure to discuss this directly with the employer so that they will be able to carry out a risk assessment and make reasonable adjustments to support your child. In the unlikely event, the employer is not supportive in any way; the placement must not be considered. If there are any concerns, contact Mrs Fletcher directly.

What happens if my child is not sure what to do?

That is completely normal! Work experience isn't about locking in a lifelong career—it’s about stepping into the workplace and gaining real-world independence. Even if a placement at a local shop, cafe, or office doesn't match their future dream job, they will develop essential soft skills such as communication and time management.  

Will my child actually be hands-on during their placement?

Because of health, safety, and insurance regulations, there will naturally be limits on certain tasks your child can perform. Setting clear expectations beforehand is key: in many workplaces, a large part of the placement will involve work shadowing and observation. While watching others' work can feel repetitive if they aren't prepared for it, it is actually one of the most valuable aspects of the experience. Encourage your child to ask questions!

We are delighted to introduce Unifrog, our comprehensive online careers platform that students can access both at school and at home.

Unifrog brings all the available information about future pathways into one impartial, user-friendly portal. It is our central hub for communicating with students about anything career-related—from exploring apprenticeships and technical routes to applying for college or university, as well as securing work experience and participating in industry activities.

For our younger students, Unifrog helps track emerging career interests so we can tailor opportunities, such as inviting relevant guest speakers and arranging industry-specific workshops based on what students are passionate about.

How to Access Unifrog

All students can log directly into Unifrog through their dashboard using their school Google account.

What Students Can Do on Unifrog:

• Discover pathways: Explore A-Levels, T-Levels, College courses, University degrees, and Apprenticeships.

• Match interests to careers: Use personality, interests, and skills quizzes to find career paths tailored to them.

• Build a record of achievement: Document skills, hobbies, extracurricular activities, and key achievements over time.

• Track live vacancies: Search real-time listings for apprenticeships and higher education options.

• Plan next steps: Set personal goals, build CVs, draft personal statements, and create clear action plans.

• Explore labor market insights: Check earning potential, required qualifications, and industry growth for different jobs.

We look forward to working alongside you and your child to support their future choices, build their aspirations, and help them take their next steps with confidence.