2025/26
Student feedback from Experience of the Workplace Day (July 2026)
The Year 12s had the responsibility and opportunity to organise a work placement for themselves. The reflections below about the day show the fantastic range of experiences enjoyed by students and the enormous value to them of broadening their understanding of the world of work:
- Construction (rebuilding of Leyton railway station) – I had so much fun and learnt a lot. It wasn’t just about the technical building and rigid timeline. The process was very detailed and quite fluid with inevitable problems such as material delivery delays. At the end of the day, I presented to the people on site on my reflections and perspective of the site which pushed me out of my comfort zone presenting with little notice in a topic relatively new to me.
- GP Practice – I shadowed a GP, nurses, and spent some time at the GP reception to get a good insight into what a primary care environment looks like and how it differs from secondary care.
- Orthodontist Practice – During my work experience, I was able to have an insight in a different healthcare setting that was not medicine, in order to understand the different variety of careers available in the NHS. I viewed the different skills, such as the communication and teamwork between the dentist and the nurses, required to work efficiently however also provide good patient treatment to cope with the high volume of patients seen daily. I learnt more about the paperwork involved with patient, understanding the process of how different healthcare centres communicate and contact with each other through referrals and this showed me that healthcare systems, no matter whether dentistry or medicine required a collaborative approach to deliver the best care for the patient.
- Chelmsford Museum – During the morning session, there was a primary school visit from Moulsham Infants. Before they arrived, I helped out with setting up some equipment and toys for the children to play with. Once they arrived, and were split up into groups, I stayed with one group for the whole session. The first session begun with an interactive tour of the museum, which eventually led them to one of the rooms, where the children learnt about Victorian Chelmsford, and I helped out with the interactive session of dressing up and learning facts.
- Bank of England Legal Department – They organised it really well to allow me to speak to lots of different people, including the head of the legal department, and gave me time to work on a scenario that a trainee would usually do – it was very fun but made me realise I don’t really enjoy the finance side of law but instead the public/human rights area (people-focused).
- London Stock Exchange – I spoke to employees at LSEG, learning about their roles within the company and asking further questions about AI and tools/software they use, learnt how financial data and technology support businesses and investors worldwide.
- Family manufacturing business – I found it really beneficial as it is quite a small business, so I was therefore able to observe the inner workings of a business in quite a lot of detail. I spoke to all the employees about their various duties and tried them each out, as well as watching the Director manage his team efficiently and fairly.
- Boots Opticians – We completed various tasks throughout the day including filing using their system and using their online systems. This helped me develop soft skills.
- Project management with TfL – Doing project management work experience at the TfL has broaden my knowledge on the stages companies use to handle projects, such as finding resource stage, document approval stage, and reflection stage at the end of the project. I have also learnt more about the working cultures in a big company and transferable skills that are preferred by big companies. I believe this experience will support me in the future.
Student feedback from Experience of the Workplace Day (June 2026)
The Year 10s had the responsibility and opportunity to organise a work placement for themselves. The reflections below about the day show the fantastic range of experiences enjoyed by students and the enormous value to them of broadening their understanding of the world of work:
- Logistics Management of a Warehouse – It was quite interesting learning how different aspects of the business combine together. Also, how orders are placed and managed when brought into the system.
- Primary School – It was a very enriching experience as I learnt how teachers support small children to learn foundations of learning and keeping them engaged with the lessons.
- GP Surgery – I saw all the admin works behind placing appointments and referrals, saw an ECG machine, and saw how they handle problems at work.
- Banking and Acquisitions, Global Payments – I learnt about the credit card cycle and how the process works, from the start and talked to a few supervisors and my dad’s colleagues about what skills are necessary for this job. I also learnt how Global Payments plays a role in the card process. Overall, it was an interesting day and I had an insight into a career I knew not much about.
- Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (online) – I had two thirty-minute video chats with colleagues, who told me all about the FCDO Fast Stream, full-time language training and what it’s like working in diplomacy. I then completed a research task surrounding an example scenario of SIDs and was asked to write a brief for a minister to use at a conference.
- Patent Attorney – I think I achieved the majority of my objectives for the day. I experienced a typical working day in an office environment and learnt about the specifics of the business. I also practised my social skills and learnt some from watching my dad interact with his clients and colleagues. I learnt about what is specifically involved in being a patent attorney and partially succeeded in understanding some new inventions and how they could be protected. Overall, I enjoyed the day and learnt a lot.
Parent feedback from our Spring Concert (March 2026)
- I just wanted to say ‘thank you’ to…the whole Music Department for all that you have done for my daughter during her time at CCHS. Being a part of all of the bands/orchestras and performances over the years has had such an incredible positive impact on her sense of self….I am confident that music will really help her to form new friendships and help her to establish herself when she moves on to university. She has learned that music is a great way to find a sense of community and belonging. We have loved watching all of the concerts and performances over the years. I am well aware of how much work goes into to each and every one.
- A quick thank you for all the Music Department did to run another successful concert. We really enjoyed all the acts and the range of ages and instruments. We all appreciate the work that needs to go into these events both in the run up and on the evening themselves, so thank you.
- Thank you so much for the wonderful Summer School day last Friday. My daughter really enjoyed the day and has talked very positively of the Year 10 girls she met. She is very shy by nature, but she definitely came away with a new sense of purpose. She has even started watching the clock in the morning because she wants to get to school early, and she has been asking for extra work to do at home, even at bedtime, because she enjoys learning.Thanks to everyone involved for giving her the opportunity to absorb the atmosphere of Chelmsford County High; it has definitely inspired her and given her a sense of direction. She also said everyone was very kind.
- Thank you for taking my daughter to the Oxford Open Day today. She’s had a fantastic and inspiring day! I am extremely grateful to you for giving her this opportunity.
- As my second daughter leaves CCHS, I’ve found myself reflecting on just how much this school has meant to my family, and I wanted to express my sincere gratitude for everything the school has given to both my daughters. They have been so fortunate to attend CCHS; both have loved being here and have truly thrived…Throughout their time at CCHS they have felt supported, challenged and genuinely seen. I am especially grateful to the many teachers – past and present – who have encouraged, inspired and believed in them throughout their time at CCHS. Their humour, warmth, and ability to bring joy and fun into everyday school life has made such a lasting impression on both girls, and I know it is something they will always remember with real fondness. I am so grateful for the opportunities they’ve had and for the culture of humility, kindness and ambition that runs through the school. It has been a constant source of reassurance for me to know they were in such caring hands…We will always look back on their time at CCHS with enormous appreciation. Thank you.
- Please pass on my thanks to all the staff on the day, and those involved behind the scenes in the administration, of this [Yr6-7] Taster Day. It was a well-run day with lots of communication leading up to it for us parents. My daughter, as predicted, came out buzzing with so much to tell me. She’s made new friends already and loved all the staff and teachers that she met. She has waxed lyrical about the science experiment too; I thought I had a forensic scientist in my house! All that aside, the day did what it was intended to do. My daughter cannot wait to start in September and is quite disappointed that there is a six-week break still to get through post finishing at Primary School…so a big well done and thank you for taking care of my daughter which I know is a precedent for her time at CCHS
- As we approach the final weeks of the school’s Sixth Form, I wanted to take the opportunity to say a heartfelt thank you to all the teachers and staff who have been so helpful and encouraging to my daughter…and how deeply grateful we are for everything they have done for her. Their help and support have genuinely changed her life…From the very beginning, when we first enquired about the school…they were welcoming, responsive, and reassuring. Their support since then has been invaluable…We feel incredibly lucky that our daughter has been able to attend CCHS. Their impact on our daughter’s life has been profound, and we will always be grateful.
- I am very grateful that both my daughters have had the opportunity to attend such a fantastic school where staff work above and beyond, showing real passion for their subjects.
- Just wanted to say thank you, Mr Lamberti, for yet another great Christmas Concert. We had such a lovely night of entertainment. Thank you for all you do for the pupils every day, but especially for the concerts.
- I just wanted to email to congratulate you Mr Lamberti, Mrs Clements, peri teachers and all your amazing students on such a brilliant concert. I thoroughly enjoyed it again this year and the level of music was outstanding. It’s become one of my highlights each Christmas.
- Thank you so much for everything the staff have done for my daughter over her 7 years at CCHS. To say she absolutely loved her school experience is an understatement. From the friends she made, to the community she was part of, and the incredible academic outcomes she achieved, she couldn’t have asked for more from her school. The social skills she has developed as a result of being a part of this community have helped her enormously in her transition to university.
- I am writing to thank you and the school for all your help and support with my daughter. She absolutely loved her time at the school. Thank you for everything. She thoroughly enjoyed her time at the school and speaks of it very fondly.
