'Don't disadvantage our kids' AM urges government in work experience row
An AM has urged the Welsh Government to reverse a decision that has seen work experience visits scrapped for hundreds of north Wales school pupils.
In many parts of the region, years 10 and 12 students will no longer be able to do week-long placements, which traditionally take place in June and July.
This follows a decision by the Welsh Government to terminate its contract with Careers Wales, which used to check the suitability of workplaces.
In 2015, Julie James AM, skills and technology minister, wrote to headteachers informing them the body would be forced to phase out the work, as it faced “a significantly reduced budget”.
Headteachers across Gwynedd and Anglesey recently wrote to parents telling them they would no longer be offering placements – Conwy took the step last year.
One Anglesey parent told the Daily Post the decision was down to “penny pinching”, describing it as “short-sighted in the extreme.”
Meanwhile, a spokesman for Wrexham council said any decision over work experience was down to individual schoools.
But in Denbighshire, steps have already been taken to ensure pupils can continue with placements.
A council spokesman said: “Once we were aware that this decision had been made, we discussed the position with all of our schools in Denbighshire and facilitated presentations from private/third sector organisations offering a similar service.
“The upshot was that our schools now organise their own placements through a private company, and this appears to be working well. Placements and vetting is turned around very efficiently and quickly.”
Flintshire Council has also been contacted for clarification on the current arrangements in the county.
Rhun ap Iorwerth has now written to the education secretary to outline his concerns.
The Plaid Cymru AM for Ynys Môn, and father-of-three, said: “When we took evidence for our report on assisting young people into work, teaching representatives had warned us that this could happen, telling us that they felt it was a crisis that could put our children under a great disadvantage.
“I’ve asked Kirsty Williams to look again at the decision so that students in Ynys Môn, and other local authorities, will not lose out on this valuable experience.
“Work experience is a golden opportunity for pupils to learn new skills, to have a taste of the world of work and to build contacts with prospective employers.
“I know from personal experience of taking on students on work experience in my office it is a good way of building the students’ self-confidence.”
A Welsh Government spokesman said: “Well planned, structured work experience placements can provide young people with a valuable insight into the world of work, and can help prepare them for many of the important decisions they face at key stages in their education.
“There are many ways schools can provide pupils with activity to help them in their understanding of, and improve competence in, the world of work, including employer talks, visits to industry and employer coaching and mentoring.”
