Barnet Council pledges more work experience after Colindale student protest

Barnet Council has committed to creating more work experience opportunities after 30 students from Hendon School and St Michael’s Catholic Grammar School protested outside its Colindale offices last month. The students, dressed as their dream professions, demanded greater access to placements, citing concerns about future employment prospects.

The protest, organised by students from years nine, ten, and twelve, included chants and personal testimonies. Aimee, a student from St Michael’s Catholic Grammar School, told council leader Barry Rawlings that opportunities were often limited by personal connections rather than merit. She said the lack of placements eroded confidence among young people.

Read Next in Barnet Press5 min read

Barnet Council now split evenly between Labour and Conservatives

Green councillor Charli Thompson says residents rejected two-party politics in May’s local elections

Council responds with pledges

Barnet Council currently offers ten work experience places and does not coordinate offers from local businesses. Rawlings pledged to change this, as reported by the Barnet Post. He committed to increasing the number of council-run placements and convening local businesses to create more opportunities.

Marian Mohamed, a University College London student involved in the campaign, said Rawlings would include a call for placements in the council’s monthly newsletter. The newsletter reaches around 1,100 local businesses. Rawlings also proposed exploring whether work experience commitments could be added to social value agreements for developers and contractors.

Related Borough Coverage5 min read

Wandsworth Council accused of breaking neutrality rules before by-election

Deleted Facebook post and Instagram video alleged to breach pre-election protocol in Whetstone-adjacent borough

A roundtable with council officers and visits to Hendon School and St Michael’s Catholic Grammar School are planned to discuss further solutions. Mohamed told the Barnet Post she was encouraged by the students’ activism and the council’s response.

“We aren’t asking for jobs to be handed to us, we are asking for the opportunity to earn our place. We agree to a system where success depends on who you know rather than what you can achieve.”

Aimee, student at St Michael’s Catholic Grammar School

National context

The protest comes amid national concern about youth employment. Former Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the latest findings on young people not in education, employment, or training (NEET) as “sobering”. A report by Alan Milburn warned that NEET numbers could rise by 25% by the 2030s without further action.

Rafael, a year twelve student from St Michael’s, told the Barnet Post he felt fulfilled by participating in the campaign. He said he hoped it would succeed in giving young people more opportunities to contribute.

What happens next

Barnet Council has not specified a timeline for implementing the pledges. The next steps include a roundtable with council officers, school visits by Rawlings, and a call for placements in the council’s newsletter. It is unclear when the first additional placements will be available or how many will be created.