Work Experience

We encourage and support our older students to gain practical work experience to equip them with the skills they need in later life.

Students are able to gain practical experience through a range of facilities provided by Novalis Trust which include the Upper Court Café at William Morris School, and the café (the Halfway Café) and shop (The Shop on the Common) at our sister school Cotswold Chine, all of which provide students with the opportunity to serve members of the public working alongside members of our staff.  Not only does this allow them to acquire valuable practical skills associated with working in a hospitality and retail environment but it also helps them to develop self-confidence and independence skills.

We also make use of the range of skills within Novalis Trust to provide our students with other types of work experience. This might include working within the IT, administration, or training departments or with members of our maintenance team.

Other opportunities including working at the local riding stables to acquire horse care skills. Our post-16 students also participate in life skill activities such as taking public transport, shopping for daily items, budget planning and preparing meals, all of which are core elements of our Blossom pathway which focuses on achieving independence goals.