Being asked to make endless cups of tea for your colleagues or being sent out to the shops on a spurious errand may be two of the images conjured up by the term 'work experience'.

But Borehamwood's students have found themselves pitched into far more fulfilling challenges.Last month, Year 10 students at Borehamwood's Hertswood School, in Thrift Farm Lane, participated in week-long placements. Students get a glimpse at what the world of work had to offer by working in shops, dog rescue homes, film studios and publishing houses.Kim Coupar organised the placements and prepared students by holding a presentation outlining what students should expect from their work experience. A day was also dedicated to helping students with CVs, IT skills and practice scenarios for the workplace. The majority of placements were arranged by Hertfordshire Careers Service (HCS).Ms Coupar said Hertswood School had been keen to incorporate work experience into more general classes. For example, follow-up activities such as writing thank you letters and giving a presentation about placements are being used as part of students' English GCSEs.She said: "Hopefully they're now drawing links between what we do with them at school and what's required of them in the workplace."Jake Bond, 14, spent part of his placement arranging light sabers, dressed as a Star Wars imperial stormtrooper. Jake had not gone to work for a company run by Darth Vader, but was the lucky student to be picked to spend a week at Elstree Props, based at Elstree Film Studios, in Shenley Road.Given the opportunity to muck in, the teenager gained a proper taste of studio life and hopes to return to the company.He said: "Being there opened up a whole new world to me. Now they know me at the studios I can keep going back to help, so they will remember my face."Similarly, 15-year-old Jessica Rowley, who spent a week at St Albans City Hospital, said that, before her placement, nursing had not even crossed her mind. After becoming involved with the working day of a nurse, Jessica now believes it to be her chosen career path.Ms Coupar said: "In cases like this, students have the ability to make more informed decisions in the future and ultimately it becomes a motivator for them to achieve. Jessica now knows what she has to improve on academically."Jacquie Bamber, of HCS, worked closely with the Hertswood students, emphasising that work placements played a key role in future achievements.She said: "Work placements get our students to think about the skills they will need to succeed in the job market. "It is also their chance to help shape the workforce of the future."Joe Marshall, who hopes to become a child psychologist, worked as a teaching assistant. He said: "We were treated as employees as opposed to just students. "As well as giving me the opportunity to work with people I didn't know, they gave me 100 per cent trust and got me involved."Ms Coupar believes the placements were a success. She said: "Since the placements ended, the school has been flooded with positive feedback and several students have been offered part-time work and jobs in the future. "Most students had a really positive experience, they all had to take a step-up maturity-wise and rose to the challenge."

  • For more information on services provided by HCS call 01462 705021 or email info@hcs.co.uk.