work experience for teenagers has been the subject of hot debate after one leading businessman nationally described it as "grim."

The vast majority of youngsters have completed two weeks of work experience by the end of Key Stage Four, which covers pupils aged between 14 and 16.

The idea is that through work experience they gain experience of a business or industry they are eventually hoping to start a career in, or that they gain practical knowledge of what working life is like.

Students are sent to a range of different businesses across the borough.

But work experience has come under fire from prominent businessman Richard Handover, chief executive of WH Smith, who said the vast majority of children going on work experience have a pretty grim time, as it often involves little more than putting paper into a waste bin or a shredding machine.

John Dunford, the general secretary of the Secondary Heads' Association has claimed that some companies see teenagers on work experience as free labour.

Their comments have prompted debates on the issue at a national level.

Currently there is no statutory requirement to do work experience but 95 per cent of 14-to 16-year-olds are given placements.

The Government wants to increase opportunities for children to gain experience of working life. Pupils aged 14 are being encouraged to spend two days a week at work as part of recent reforms of secondary education.

Foreign languages and design technology lessons are even being made optional to give pupils the chance to go on work placements or job-related courses.

John Baumber, headteacher of Rivington and Blackrod High School and chairman of the Bolton Headteachers Association said that work experience has played a valuable role in pupil development.

At his school they run two types of work experience. Under a short term work experience scheme pupils work in industry for a two week period.

Mr Baumber said: " This has proved to be very rewarding. They have experience of getting up in the morning to go to work, the rigour of a workday, and they get to see what the world of work is like. They come back to school very focused."

He said placements are bound to vary in quality and in terms of what children do, although the school works hard to make sure students are doing something worthwhile.

Mr Baumber added: " We have 330 in a year group and to find 330 places in a local area is a nightmare. But we work really hard to make sure what they are doing is worthwhile so they don't just end up getting cups of tea and sweeping the floor. Of course there is an element of that, after all they are only there for two weeks.

"It's just so important that they experience what having a job is like."

The school also runs a long term work experience course where pupils -- usually those who are not expected to do well in traditional qualifications -- are at work for two days a week for two years.

Mr Baumber said this has a "significant impact" on pupils. He added: "This is especially good for youngsters who are not going to get traditional qualifications, it's a really positive option to explore a different direction."

Andrew Dickson owner of St. Andrew's Travel and chairman of Bolton's Chamber of Commerce gave his opinion of work experience from the perspective of a businessman and as an employer who provides work experience.

When employers put in time and effort in properly organising placements, Mr Dickson said work experience was of enormous benefit.

He added that businesses have a responsibility to help create better workers for the future. He said: "We arrange for schools to send students here for interviews and they get introduced into the various departments.

"Students get the experience of working in an office environment where there are dress codes and behaviour codes that have to be observed. Some work will include brewing up and sweeping the floor but it depends on the students. Depending on how they get on, some studentsare answering the phones or even taking bookings.

"Work experience here helps them to find out if they are suited to travel. I've got some of my best employees as a result of work experience. I think it is something that should be encouraged."

THREE Rivington and Blackrod students have given their views and opinions.

Before Dale Barlow, aged 16, went on his work experience he was thinking about going into sport for his career.

But he enjoyed doing work experience involving electrics and circuit boards at training agency Alliance Learning so much that he has now decided he wants to be an electrician. He said: "I was learning about circuits and the way they work. We were given these big circuit boards which had things wrong with them. We had to test them and make them safe. My dad's an electrician and he has his own company so I am looking to go and work for him." Katie Holt, aged 15, enjoyed work experience as a trainer at the Guide Dogs for the Blind. She said: "They taught us how to train dogs and how to walk them. I intend to go back there and do charity work."

Andrew McAllister, aged 16, went to a computer shop.

"My Saturday job is working with computers so I knew quite a bit anyway. I learnt to work as part of a team and had to help built a computer. I would eventually like to work in computers or graphic design."