For many young people, work experience is a rite of passage – an opportunity to step out of the classroom, try something new and gain a first taste of the working world. It is something many people take for granted. At New College Worcester, we believe that a vision impairment should never be a barrier to these important life experiences. With only around one in four people with sight loss currently in employment, it is more important than ever that young people with vision impairment have opportunities to build confidence, develop workplace skills and explore future career pathways. That is why work experience plays such a vital role in the NCW curriculum.
This year, students took part in an exciting and varied Work Experience Week, with placements that reflected their interests, aspirations and talents. From gaining practical skills in real workplaces to contributing to their local communities, students embraced every opportunity that came their way.
Work experience offers far more than an insight into a particular job. It helps students develop independence, communication skills and self-advocacy. It provides opportunities to explain their accessibility needs, demonstrate their abilities and challenge misconceptions about what people with vision impairment can achieve.
Throughout the week, students encountered new environments, met new people and took on fresh challenges. They developed valuable employability skills, learned how workplaces operate and gained a greater understanding of the qualifications, skills and experiences required for different careers.
For many students, work experience was also an opportunity to give something back to their communities, contributing their talents and energy while showing employers the unique strengths they can bring to the workplace.
George Supports Students at Oxted School
One student who embraced the challenge of work experience was George, who undertook his placement at Oxted School in Surrey, a mainstream secondary school with a specialist Vision Impairment Resource Provision.
George independently arranged the placement himself, contacting the Qualified Teacher of Vision Impaired pupils (QTVI) who manages the provision and suggesting ways in which he could support students. Originally, George was due to work with two Year 7 students, but when one student was absent due to illness, he spent the week supporting a Year 7 braillist.
Ahead of the placement, George carefully prepared for the role by planning activities and producing resources in Braille. During the week, he took part in Science and French lessons, shared advice about Braille technology and accessibility, and even supported a French teacher by discussing ways to make lessons more accessible for a Braille user. Although firewall restrictions prevented some of his technology from working as intended, George demonstrated excellent problem-solving skills and adaptability throughout.
His experience also included attending an author visit by Carnegie Award-winning author Beth O’Brien and participating in a workshop, as well as experiencing something entirely new – a mainstream school fire drill.
Perhaps most importantly, the placement gave George valuable insight into life in a mainstream secondary school. Reflecting on his experience, George said:
“I really enjoyed the experience and would want to go back at a time when there is more learning rather than end-of-term activities. It was very different being in a mainstream school with the number of students and noise. I now realise how different a mainstream school is compared to NCW and how lucky I am to attend NCW where all teachers are QTVIs and I don’t have to think about whether a lesson will be fully accessible.”
The QTVI at Oxted School praised George’s contribution, describing him as a “wonderful person” and saying that “it is a pleasure to have him on the team this week.” George was also invited to return in the future, reflecting the positive impact he made during his time there.
Despite the soaring temperatures, George thoroughly enjoyed his placement and gained valuable experience, confidence and insight into both education and advocacy.
Len Inspires Young Learners at Stanford-le-Hope Primary School
Another student who made a significant impact during Work Experience Week was Len, who completed his placement at Stanford-le-Hope Primary School.
Throughout the week, Len worked alongside staff and pupils across a range of year groups, gaining first-hand experience of teaching, supporting learners with vision impairment and using assistive technology. The placement provided him with valuable insight into education while allowing him to share his own experiences as a visually impaired young person.
Music played a central role in Len’s week. As a talented cellist, he led music sessions with nursery-aged children, including pupils with vision impairments. Through familiar songs such as Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and If You’re Happy and You Know It, Len encouraged children to participate while introducing them to different cello techniques and sounds. His enthusiasm, confidence and natural rapport with younger pupils helped create engaging and inclusive learning experiences.
Len also planned and delivered two whole-class music lessons to Year 1 pupils. During these sessions, he spoke about his own educational journey, explained how people with vision impairments access information through touch, sound, Braille and mobility aids, and introduced children to the cello. Pupils eagerly joined in as Len played familiar nursery rhymes, encouraging them to identify and sing along to the tunes while learning more about disability awareness and inclusion.
Another highlight of the placement was Len’s work teaching Braille. Drawing on his own experiences as a Braille learner, he planned and delivered a lesson using the Take Off series to a Year 10 student. Throughout the session, Len carefully adapted his teaching to meet the learner’s needs, offering encouragement, guidance and praise. Staff were particularly impressed by his patience, communication skills and ability to build the student’s confidence. By the end of the lesson, the pupil successfully completed comprehension activities independently using questions that Len had written himself.
Across all areas of the placement, Len consistently demonstrated professionalism, maturity and initiative. He was praised for his reliability, enthusiasm and willingness to take on new challenges, as well as for his ability to build positive relationships with both staff and pupils. His confidence in sharing his experiences of sight loss helped raise awareness and inspire young learners throughout the school.
Stanford-le-Hope Primary School described Len’s placement as highly successful and thanked him for the positive contribution he made during the week. The experience not only provided Len with valuable insight into teaching and education but also allowed him to showcase his musical talents, leadership skills and passion for helping others.
Len should be incredibly proud of everything he achieved. His placement highlighted the many strengths he can bring to future educational, musical or professional settings and demonstrated the powerful contribution visually impaired young people can make when given the opportunity to shine.
Emma's Full-Circle Moment at Birmingham Children's Hospital
For Emma, Work Experience Week has been particularly meaningful. She is completing her placement with the Play Specialist team at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, gaining first-hand experience in a career she has long dreamed of pursuing.
Emma’s ambition to become a Play Specialist stems from her own experiences as a patient. Over the years, she received incredible support from the Play Specialist team during hospital visits and treatments. Their kindness, creativity and compassion helped make challenging situations easier to navigate and left a lasting impression on her.
Inspired by the impact they had on her life, Emma has long wanted to follow in their footsteps and support children and families facing similar experiences. This placement has therefore been a true full-circle moment – offering her the chance to learn from the very team that once supported her.
Working alongside experienced Play Specialists has provided Emma with a valuable insight into the role, from helping children prepare for medical procedures to creating positive and engaging experiences that support emotional wellbeing. She has been able to observe the breadth of the role and the difference these professionals make to children during what can often be difficult times.
The placement has strengthened Emma’s career aspirations and confirmed her passion for working with children. It has also demonstrated how personal experiences can inspire future ambitions and how work experience can help turn those ambitions into achievable goals.
We are incredibly proud of Emma for embracing this opportunity with such enthusiasm and determination. Her placement is a wonderful example of how NCW students use their own experiences to make a positive difference in the lives of others
Keziah Explores Music, Community and Employment Opportunities
Keziah enjoyed one of the most varied placements of the week, experiencing a range of roles across music, community work and supported employment services.
For much of the week, Keziah accompanied a self-employed music tutor, gaining valuable insight into how music can bring people together and support wellbeing. Her placement included attending a village sing-along, helping to lead a singing session for blind adults, and supporting a sing-along for people living with Parkinson’s disease. She also had the opportunity to observe violin lessons in two primary schools, seeing how music can be used to engage and inspire learners of different ages.
Alongside her music-based experiences, Keziah spent time working with her local church community. During her placement there, she supported a toddler group, helping to engage with children before assisting with tidying up by washing and organising toys. She also spent time helping in the church kitchen, gaining practical experience in supporting community activities behind the scenes.
Keziah also explored future employment opportunities through discussions with Realise Futures, an organisation that supports people to develop skills and access employment opportunities. This gave her the chance to learn more about different career pathways and the support available for visually impaired people entering the workplace.
By experiencing a variety of environments and meeting people from different walks of life, Keziah gained valuable insight into the importance of communication, community engagement and adaptability. Her placement demonstrated how a wide range of skills can be developed through work experience and highlighted the many ways visually impaired young people can make meaningful contributions to their communities.
Throughout the week, Keziah approached every opportunity with enthusiasm and a willingness to learn. Whether supporting community groups, assisting with practical tasks or exploring careers linked to music and wellbeing, she embraced each experience and should be incredibly proud of everything she achieved.
Waitrose Worcester Supports the Next Generation of NCW Students
Malek, Lily-Grace, Tamzin, Kacey and Tora all completed their work experience placements at Waitrose Worcester, one of NCW’s long-standing supporters and a valued partner in our work experience programme.
Over many years, Waitrose has demonstrated its commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for young people with vision impairment, welcoming NCW students into a busy retail environment and helping them develop valuable employability skills and confidence.
Throughout the week, the students fully immersed themselves in every aspect of life at Waitrose, embracing a wide variety of roles and responsibilities. They gained hands-on experience serving customers on the tills, watering and caring for plants, replenishing stock on the shop floor and supporting staff with kitchen duties.
By working across different departments, students developed important workplace skills including communication, teamwork, organisation, time management and customer service. They also gained valuable insight into how a large retail business operates and the many different roles that help keep it running smoothly.
Staff at Waitrose were impressed by the students’ positive attitudes, willingness to learn and readiness to take on new challenges. In turn, the placement gave students the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities, build their confidence and experience the satisfaction that comes from being part of a hardworking team.
We are incredibly grateful to Waitrose Worcester for their continued support of NCW students and their commitment to providing high-quality work experience opportunities. Placements such as these play an important role in helping young people develop independence, explore potential career pathways and prepare for the world of work.
Malek, Lily-Grace, Tamzin, Kacey and Tora should all be extremely proud of how they represented themselves and NCW throughout the week. Their enthusiasm and professionalism made a fantastic impression and helped make the placement a great success.
Zac Thrives at Tesco St Peter's
Zac spent his work experience week at Tesco St Peter’s in Worcester, another valued supporter of NCW and our work experience programme.
Tesco St Peter’s has been a long-time supporter of the college, regularly providing work experience opportunities for our students and generously supporting NCW through raffle prizes, donations and community initiatives. Their commitment to helping young people gain real-world workplace experience has made a significant difference to many NCW students over the years.
During his placement, Zac embraced every opportunity that came his way, gaining hands-on experience in a variety of roles across the store. He worked alongside different teams, helping with replenishing stock in the freezers and produce departments, supporting customers on the tills and learning about the Click & Collect service. Every day brought something new, allowing Zac to build confidence and develop valuable workplace skills while experiencing the fast-paced environment of a major retailer.
One of Zac’s favourite discoveries was Tesco’s famous “rumble hour” – the process of ensuring shelves are tidy, organised and fully stocked. It quickly became one of the highlights of his week and gave him an insight into the many behind-the-scenes tasks involved in keeping a busy supermarket running smoothly.
Zac’s mum, Suzanne, reflected on the impact the placement had on both Zac and his family:
“We are so grateful to Tesco Worcester for providing Zac with this incredible experience. There are many factors to consider when accommodating a young person with a visual impairment and it’s one of our biggest concerns for Zac’s future that potential employers might be put off by his vision loss. Tesco couldn’t have been more accommodating, and it really is heartwarming to know that there are employers that see past disabilities.
Zac is such a capable and inspirational young man, and through the support of NCW is learning to overcome his disabilities and reach his true potential. We couldn’t be more proud of him.
We have really enjoyed hearing all his daily updates from his placement, and all the different tasks he has tried. From replenishing the freezers and produce to being on the tills and Click & Collect, he has enjoyed every moment, and especially the rumble hour! Ever wondered how Tesco supermarket shelves stay so tidy and uniform? That’ll be the rumble hour apparently!
A huge thank you to Steve and all his team for giving Zac an unforgettable week.”
Placements like Zac’s demonstrate the importance of employers who recognise potential, talent and determination rather than focusing on barriers. By providing students with meaningful opportunities to develop workplace skills and confidence, businesses such as Tesco St Peter’s play a vital role in helping young people prepare for future employment.
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Steve and the entire team at Tesco St Peter’s for welcoming Zac and supporting him throughout the week. Their encouragement and commitment helped make the placement a fantastic success.
Zac should be incredibly proud of everything he achieved during the week. His enthusiasm, willingness to try new things and positive attitude enabled him to make the most of every opportunity and represent both himself and NCW brilliantly.
Dylan Explores Innovative Technology at Dolphin Computer Access
For Dylan, Work Experience Week provided the perfect opportunity to immerse himself in a field he is passionate about – technology.
Dylan completed his placement with Dolphin Computer Access, one of the UK’s leading developers of assistive technology for people who are blind or partially sighted. The company creates software and solutions that enable people with vision impairment to access computers, education and employment independently.
As NCW’s resident computer whizz, Dylan was excited to gain first-hand experience of the technology sector and learn more about how accessibility software is developed and supported. Throughout the week, he worked alongside professionals with a wide range of expertise, exploring different aspects of the business and gaining valuable insight into careers within the technology industry.
The placement allowed Dylan to see how innovative technology can transform lives by creating greater access to education, work and everyday activities. He had the opportunity to learn more about assistive software development, customer support and the important role technology plays in empowering people with vision impairments to achieve their goals.
Luca Impresses During Work Experience Placement with The Vertical Group
NCW student Luca has completed a successful work experience placement with The Vertical Group, where he spent a week gaining valuable insight into a range of business functions and making a genuine contribution to the team.
During his placement, Luca completed the company’s induction process, learning about its values, policies, and employee handbook before spending time with colleagues across a variety of departments. He listened in on sales and customer service calls, collaborated with the marketing team to develop ideas for social media content, and carried out research into potential letting agency partners in Liverpool and Durham.
One of Luca’s most notable achievements came when he identified an accessibility issue on the company’s website using the assistive technology he relies on. Working alongside the IT team, Luca helped implement a solution, improving the website’s accessibility for future users.
Luca also began work on a coding project to create a new webpage, further developing his growing technical skills and demonstrating his enthusiasm for web development.
The Vertical Group was particularly impressed by Luca’s independence and professionalism throughout the week. He confidently navigated the office environment, introduced himself to colleagues, and quickly became a valued member of the team.
Reflecting on the placement, James Villarreal from The Vertical Group praised Luca’s contribution, saying:
“Luca has absolutely earned his salary this week. He was a pleasure to have as part of the team, showed great initiative, and made a real contribution to the business. He’s now part of the Vertical Group family, and we’d be delighted to welcome him back in the future. Quite frankly, he’s a superstar.”
The placement highlighted Luca’s strengths as well as opportunities to continue developing his skills, supporting his future aspirations and career ambitions. NCW is incredibly proud of Luca’s achievements and grateful to The Vertical Group for providing such a positive and meaningful work experience opportunity.
Gaining Valuable Experience Within NCW
Not all work experience took place off-site. Several students chose to complete internal placements within NCW, supporting colleagues in the Art and Independent Living Skills (ILS) departments.
Working alongside staff, students assisted with a variety of activities, helping departments run smoothly while developing their own workplace skills, confidence and independence. They also acted as positive role models for younger students, offering encouragement, sharing their experiences and demonstrating the progress they have made during their time at NCW.
These placements provided an excellent opportunity for students to gain practical experience in a familiar environment while making a meaningful contribution to the wider college community.
A Team Effort
While Work Experience Week is an exciting opportunity for students, securing placements often requires a great deal of planning, determination and collaboration.
Many of this year’s students and their families worked incredibly hard to identify and arrange suitable placements, reaching out to employers, making connections and advocating for the opportunities they wanted to pursue. They were supported throughout the process by Andy Radford, NCW’s Careers Lead, who worked closely with students, families and employers to help make these valuable experiences possible.
Reflecting on the success of the week, Steve Farr, Vice Principal at NCW, said:
“We are incredibly proud of all the students who have taken part in Work Experience Week. For many of them, and their families, securing these placements has involved considerable effort, determination and perseverance. I would also like to recognise the fantastic work of Andy Radford, whose support, guidance and commitment have helped students access opportunities that reflect their interests and ambitions.
Work experience is about so much more than spending a few days in a workplace. It gives our students the chance to develop confidence, independence and self-advocacy skills, while showing employers what young people with vision impairment can achieve when given the opportunity. The placements we have seen this year have been truly inspiring, and we are excited to see how these experiences help shape our students’ futures.”
Looking Towards the Future
At NCW, we are committed to ensuring that our students leave school ready for the next stage of their lives. Experiences such as Work Experience Week help to build the confidence, resilience and ambition needed to pursue further education, training and employment.
We are incredibly proud of every student who took part. Their enthusiasm, professionalism and willingness to step outside their comfort zones were inspiring to see, and we look forward to sharing more of their individual placements and achievements over the coming weeks.
Work experience may be a rite of passage, but for our students it is also something more powerful: a chance to discover what is possible, advocate for themselves and demonstrate the valuable contribution they can make to their communities and future workplaces. Through determination, talent and a willingness to embrace new opportunities, students like George, Len and Emma are helping to challenge perceptions of vision impairment and inspire others to do the same
