Benefits for parents
As mentioned in Benefits for students, there are motivational benefits to employers working with schools. These result in the students being more likely to achieve and to continue in education for longer. Thus, the involvement of employers in young people's education supports the role of parents in encouraging and guiding their children along the learning pathway and into paid work.
Role models
The importance of role models should not be underestimated. Students benefit from a range of role models in their lives, especially when these role models are from a variety of backgrounds and occupations. When employees act as mentors or come into the school to help with mock interviews, or when students are able to work with employees on work experience visits, the experience of having a role model is invaluable.
Jess's story
Robert Livingston's daughter Jess is in Year 10 of a school in South Yorkshire. He is very enthusiastic about the way in which her opportunities to work with employers has made her even more motivated than she was before. Following her school-based, Key Stage 4 work experience, Jess is actively seeking part-time employment, which will enable her to build on the learning she has already gained from her time in the workplace.
Jess has always been very hard working and academic at school, but her increasing level of experience with different employers has made her even more determined to do well so that she can fulfil her ambitions post-16.
Jess's experience with employers has also helped her to identify aspects of work that she does and does not enjoy. As a result of this 'in-context careers education', Jess is able to make informed choices about her future work experience and look ahead to her post-16 education options.
For further evidence of why it works visit Research Reports.