Early career exposure gives students a critical head start, building confidence, skills, and clarity about the future.
Here’s why work experience matters from the very start of secondary education.

Why is early career exposure important for students?

Because understanding the world of work shouldn’t start after school, it should start during it.
By introducing students to real-life workplaces early on, schools help them make informed decisions, develop vital skills, and build stronger futures.

At The Changing Education Group, we believe early exposure is key to empowering students for the future, and we’re here to support schools every step of the way.

What are the benefits of early career exploration?

When students engage with different career paths early, they gain insight that shapes their personal and academic growth.

Key benefits include:

• Greater self-awareness of strengths, interests, and values
• Improved motivation and focus on schoolwork
• Informed subject and course choices
• Reduced risk of post-16 disengagement or dropout

From a day of shadowing to structured work experience placements, even brief exposure can help students discover what excites them and what doesn’t.

How does early work experience develop employability skills?

While classroom learning builds knowledge, the workplace builds skills that stick.
Work experience gives students a chance to practise:

• Communication and teamwork
• Time management and punctuality
• Problem-solving and adaptability
• Professionalism and responsibility

These are essential for long-term success, not just in jobs, but in life.

And with today’s employers increasingly focused on soft skills, students with real-world experience stand out when it counts.

Can students build networks before they leave school?

Absolutely, and it’s one of the most overlooked benefits of early placements.
By interacting with professionals through work experience, career days, or guest speakers, students begin to build:

• Confidence in professional environments
• Awareness of workplace culture and expectations
• Connections that may lead to mentoring, references, or future opportunities

These early contacts can be the foundation of a student’s future network, especially for those without existing professional links.

How does early career exposure support schools and communities?

The benefits extend far beyond the individual student.

For schools:

• Stronger outcomes against Gatsby Benchmarks
• Enhanced Ofsted readiness
• Improved engagement and behaviour
• Clearer evidence of personal development

For local communities:

• More work-ready young people
• Stronger education-business partnerships
• A future workforce that understands local industry needs

When schools invest in early career experiences, they’re not just supporting students, they’re shaping the future of their local economy.

Let’s Give Students the Head Start They Deserve

At The Changing Education Group, we help schools bring structured, purposeful work experience into the student journey, from Key Stage 3 to post-16.

Whether you’re looking to:

• Improve Gatsby compliance
• Enhance student engagement
• Deliver meaningful career learning
• Or simply reduce admin and risk…

We’re here to help.

Book a demo or get in touch to explore how our Work Experience Suite can support your students’ futures and your school’s goals.

FAQs

1. What’s the best age to start career exposure?
Early exposure can begin as young as Year 7 through activities like career talks or site visits. Formal placements often start in Years 10–12.

2. Can short placements really make a difference?
Yes, even a single day of shadowing can shape a student’s thinking. Longer placements deepen the impact but aren’t always required to spark interest.

3. What if students don’t know what they want to do?
That’s exactly why exposure matters early. It helps students explore, test ideas, and build confidence in their decision-making.

4. How does The Changing Education Group support early exposure?
We provide full-service work experience solutions, from employer sourcing and safeguarding to placement delivery and tracking.

5. Is this aligned with Gatsby Benchmark 6?
Yes, our programmes directly support Gatsby Benchmark 6: experiences of the workplace, along with other benchmarks across careers provision.