Department Members |
Mr R. Breen- Head of Department
Mr G. Hetherington |
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Aim of department: | In Business Studies we aim to enable every pupil to leave school with an accredited qualification. We strive to reduce the attainment gap between groups of students by making effective use of data to inform teaching and learning any by constantly developing our skills as a teaching team. All staff have up-to-date knowledge and understanding of our subject and working as a team helps us to help our students to reach their full potential. We play a key part in developing skills that will prepare students’ workplace skills which in turn will contribute to their economic wellbeing. Our curriculum contextualises learning through the use of real life situations and problem solving scenarios. Our students develop personal qualities such as the ability to work effectively in teams.
Aims:
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Timetable allocation: | Key Stage 3 | Key Stage 4 | Key Stage 5 | |||||
1 period per week Year 10 | 5 periods per week | 8 periods per week | ||||||
Key Stage 3 Curriculum |
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Key Themes |
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Year 10 | Term 1 | Pupils study ICT | ||||||
Term 2 | Entrepreneurs and what is a business | |||||||
Term 3 | Business Ownership | |||||||
Key Stage 4 Curriculum |
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Year 11 Business Studies
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Exam Board | CCEA | ||||||
Overview | This qualification engages students in the study of a range of business topics impacting on today’s society. Students will take a holistic approach to studying the diverse nature of business organisations. The qualification is underpinned by 3 core business issues: globalisation, digital technology and stakeholder influence. The qualification will require students to develop decision marking skills and engage in critical thinking and analysis of core business functions, which will equip them for further study and employment in business-related areas.
Through our GCSE Business Studies specification students learn about how businesses start up, resources they need, marketing, finance, challenges they face and how they grow. Students also explore the role of stakeholders – groups that have an interest in a business – as well as human resources, the recruitment and selection process, and the value of training and motivation for employees. Important new topics include the role of social enterprise, e-business and m-business, discovering how businesses can use electronic and mobile technology in different ways. Students also learn to apply useful skills such as proposing business strategies or solutions, understanding other viewpoints and justifying decisions. A qualification in Business Studies can lead to a career in accounting, advertising, banking, retail, management consulting, marketing, research, human resources, a small business, or self-employment as an entrepreneur. Assessment is through two written exams, each worth 40% of the final mark, and a controlled assessment unit worth 20%. |
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Unit Title | Assessment | Weighting | Availability | |||||
Unit 1 Starting a Business | Examination | 40% | June | |||||
Year 12
Business Studies
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Exam Board | CCEA | ||||||
Overview | Through our GCSE Business Studies specification students learn about how businesses start up, resources they need, marketing, finance, challenges they face and how they grow. Students also explore the role of stakeholders – groups that have an interest in a business – as well as human resources, the recruitment and selection process, and the value of training and motivation for employees.
Important new topics include the role of social enterprise, e-business and m-business, discovering how businesses can use electronic and mobile technology in different ways. Students also learn to apply useful skills such as proposing business strategies or solutions, understanding other viewpoints and justifying decisions. A qualification in Business Studies can lead to a career in accounting, advertising, banking, retail, management consulting, marketing, research, human resources, a small business, or self-employment as an entrepreneur. Assessment is through two written exams, each worth 40% of the final mark, and a controlled assessment unit worth 20%. |
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Unit Title | Assessment | Weighting | Availability | |||||
Unit 2
Developing a Business |
Examination | 40% | June | |||||
Unit 3
Planning a Business |
Controlled Assessment | 20% | June | |||||
Year 11
& Year 12 Business & Services
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Occupational Studies
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The world of work is constantly changing. Today it is uncommon for a person to have only one occupation throughout their working life, so it’s vital that we are able to transfer and adapt our knowledge and skills throughout our careers.
To foster these abilities, Occupational Studies allows learners to learn for work, through work and about work, and it provides the potential for this learning to take place in out-of-school contexts. This hands-on approach is ideal for those who prefer to develop their skills in a more practical, occupational environment. Occupational Studies is both coherent and flexible and provides a good foundation from which to advance to competence-based post-16 courses. |
100 % coursework
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June
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Key Stage 5 Curriculum |
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Year 13 | Exam Board | WJEC | ||||||
Overview | This specification introduces learners to the dynamic business environment and the importance of entrepreneurial activity in creating business opportunities and sustaining business growth. Learners will have the opportunity to develop a wide range of essential skills required for higher education and employment.
The focus of the specification is to nurture an enthusiasm for studying business using contemporary contexts, allowing learners to develop an appreciation of the strategic, complex and inter-related nature of business issues from a local to global perspective. |
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Unit Title | Assessment | Weighting | Availability | |||||
Unit 1 Business Opportunities | Examination | 50% of AS | May/June | |||||
Unit 2 Business Functions | Examination | 50% of AS | May/June | |||||
Year 14 | Exam Board | WJEC | ||||||
Overview | This specification introduces learners to the dynamic business environment and the importance of entrepreneurial activity in creating business opportunities and sustaining business growth. Learners will have the opportunity to develop a wide range of essential skills required for higher education and employment.
The focus of the specification is to nurture an enthusiasm for studying business using contemporary contexts, allowing learners to develop an appreciation of the strategic, complex and inter-related nature of business issues from a local to global perspective. |
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Unit Title | Assessment | Weighting | Availability | |||||
Unit 3 Business Strategy | Examination | 50% | May/ June | |||||
Unit 4 Business in a changing world | Examination | 50% | May/June | |||||
Extra-Curricular: |
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We as a school work very closely with Young Enterprise Northern Ireland. We actively take part in a number of programs including the Company Programme for our Key Stage 5 pupils where they set up and run a real company. this gives them a valuable insight into the real world or business. Our programs:
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Department Successes: |
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We have been very successful in winning a number of YENI company awards these include: –
2015 Marketing Award 2016 Marketing Award 2017 Social Media Award 2018 Runner-up Best Company at NW Trade Fair 2018 Business Organisation Award |
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Careers Links: |
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Business Studies can open up a wide range of opportunities for further and higher education or on to a rewarding career such as Accountancy, Law, Banking, Systems/Business Analysis, Management, Insurance, Media, Marketing, Human Resource Management, Investment, Teaching, ICT and Economics and/or self-employment in one’s own business enterprise. Many degree courses also contain a Business Module as a core element. |