Southwark Schools' Work Experience Practices Under Scrutiny for Fairness and Effectiveness
Southwark schools' approach to work experience is under scrutiny, with concerns raised about fairness and effectiveness.
The Education and Local Economy Scrutiny Commission heard that some schools place the burden of finding work experience placements on students, leading to a reliance on family connections and disadvantaging those without such networks. During a meeting on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, members of the Southwark Youth Parliament and young researchers presented their experiences, highlighting a disparity in how schools facilitate work experience opportunities. Some schools actively provide placements, while others require students to find their own, often leading to a postcode lottery for essential early career exposure.
Concerns have been raised about the effectiveness of careers advisors in schools, with limited resources and generic advice hindering their ability to provide tailored support. While schools are statutorily required to offer careers advice to Year 11 and 13 students, budget pressures have led to a more generalised approach. The advice offered is often described as a series of suggestions, such as have you considered this, have you considered that,
rather than personalised guidance.
Janelle Goombs, a young researcher, shared her personal struggles in securing internships and graduate opportunities, emphasizing the value of targeted programmes like the one offered by Groundwork London and Southwark Council, which she found through a job board and was open to Southwark residents.
Councillor Felicia Johnston questioned the sectors young people are interested in, noting that while STEM subjects are often promoted, there is significant interest in creative industries. The discussion also touched on the preference for internships and apprenticeships, with a recognition of the high competition and the need for prior skills.
The commission also heard that while parental support is important, for some young people, particularly those from families new to the UK system, schools are their primary source of information.
Officers presented a report detailing existing council initiatives such as Southwark Works, Connect to Work, WorkWell, and the Southwark Skills Partnership, which aim to support young people aged 16-24 who are not in education, employment, or training (NEET) or face other barriers to employment. The report for the Pathways to Work for Young People
agenda item indicates that Southwark Works engaged 1,056 young people (aged 16-24) between September 2023 and March 2026, with 210 supported into employment and 225 into accredited training programmes. The Connect to Work
programme is projected to support over 2,000 people in Southwark by 2030, and the WorkWell
programme is set to be implemented from November 2026 to March 2029, though specific success rates for these are not yet available. The Southwark Skills Partnership has developed various programmes, but detailed success rates are not provided.
Recommendations from the commission included developing a 'youth guarantee' with a clear offer and an accountable lead. While the exact timeline for a fully implemented youth guarantee is not explicitly stated, the development of the youth offer is ongoing, with a potential offer emerging by July 2027.
Furthermore, the commission highlighted the need for improved data collection on young people seeking education, training, and employment. A dedicated group is to be established to analyse existing data, identify gaps, and enhance data integration. This will involve working more closely with Southwark to ensure a continuous and targeted employability support system from youth to adult stages.
For more details on the meeting, refer to the Agenda frontsheet and the Public reports pack.