ICT and Business are an integral part of society. No matter what path you take in life, you will require knowledge of using ICT. By studying ICT and Business-related courses, you will develop the skills required when entering the workforce.
In ICT, you will learn a wide range of skills, including how to use Microsoft packages, Adobe and online software. Business and Enterprise studies will develop your knowledge and understanding of how businesses run and the systems and processes required to make them successful.
The Key Stage 3 Curriculum (Year 7-9)
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In Year 7, students will complete a research project, learning how to search on the internet, find relevant information and present work in Microsoft packages. Additionally, they will develop coding and problem-solving skills by creating their own Pacman game using Scratch, and also learn about how to be safe online so that they know how to protect themselves in the digital world.
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In Year 8, students will use Microsoft to create their own text-based story, developing PowerPoint skills and revisiting presentation layout and internet research skills, as well as developing new skills that will enable them to create a website in PowerPoint. Students will also be introduced to Adobe Fireworks; in this sequence they will create a magazine cover or poster, learning how to edit and manipulate images for a given purpose. Within the Year 8 curriculum, we will also recap internet safety and how to keep safe when using social media. In addition, students will also learn how to use spreadsheets which will include entering data, creating tables and graphs and creating formulae and functions.
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In Year 9, students will create animations using Adobe Flash and videos using Premiere. This incorporates both Business and ICT, exploring how ICT can be used in the business world to advertise products. Students will also be introduced to elements of Computer Science such as hardware and software, input and output devices, peripherals and binary. The final unit will require students to create their own website for a travel blog in Dreamweaver.
The Key Stage 4 Curriculum (Year 10-11)
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Course Studied: GCSE Business
Specification Link: https://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/gcse/business-j204-from-2017
Description of the course:
This course covers all aspects of business and allows students to run their own business to build up real skills for their future. The course covers:
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Marketing – including advertising, development of products, setting the best price.
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Recruitment – how businesses get the right staff and keep them working well.
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Business structures – including the different ways to set up a business.
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Finance – including how businesses get the money to set up and operate and how they make a profit.
How the course is assessed:
Students will complete regular assessments in GCSE Business and mock examinations. At the end of Year 11 Unit 1 and Unit 2 are assessed with two 90-minute written exams, each with an equal weighting of 50% of the GCSE. Some questions will be multiple choice, some will be extended writing to test your ability to explain why you made a particular decision.
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Course Studied: Cambridge National in Enterprise and Marketing
Specification Link: https://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/cambridge-nationals/enterprise-and-marketing-level-1-and-2-certificate-j819/
Description of the course:
This course covers different aspects of Business where students will be required to use a range of research skills and knowledge to build up their own business portfolio. The units that we will study are:
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Enterprise and marketing concepts – students will explore the techniques businesses use to understand their market and develop products, investigate what makes a product viable and understand how businesses attract and retain customers.
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Design a business proposal - students will complete a business challenge from which they create a researched and costed business proposal.
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Market and pitch a business proposal – students will prepare for and pitch the business proposal that they developed in the previous unit.
How the course is assessed:
The Enterprise and Marketing course has one 90-minute exam, which students will take in Year 11 and which is worth 50% of the overall grade. The other two units will be assessed internally using coursework and will make up the remaining 50% of the course.
Unit R064: Enterprise and marketing concepts – External exam
Unit R065: Design a business proposal – Internally assessed coursework
Unit R066: Market and pitch a business proposal – Internally assessed coursework
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Course Studied: Cambridge National Creative iMedia
Specification Link: https://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/cambridge-nationals/creative-imedia-level-1-2-award-certificate-j807-j817/
Description of the course:
This qualification aims to equip young people with the knowledge, understanding and skills they need to design and make effective digital products for others to use. They will complete four units in total, which will include:
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Pre-production skills – students are introduced to a range of essential pre-production techniques used in the creative and digital media, including client brief, time frames, deadlines and preparation techniques.
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Creating digital graphics – students will explore where and why digital graphics are used and the techniques that are involved in their creation. They apply their skills and knowledge in creating digital graphics for a specific client brief.
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Creating a Website – students will research and plan a website. They will develop skills in Dream Weaver to create a fully functional website with hyperlinks, moving images and animations to match a client brief.
How the course is assessed:
Assessment is mostly made up of multimedia projects that will be completed in lessons. There will be one external examination based on pre-production skills. This exam is worth 25%, as are each of the other 3 units.
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Course Studied: GCSE Computer Science
Specification Link: https://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/gcse/computer-science-j277-from-2020/
Description of the course:
This course covers all aspects of Computer Science and allows students to create their own coding. The course comprises two units:
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Unit 1 - Introduces students to the central processing unit (CPU), computer memory and storage, data representation, wired and wireless networks, network topologies, system security and system software. It also looks at ethical, legal, cultural and environmental concerns associated with Computer Science.
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Unit 2 – Focuses on computational thinking, algorithms and programming. Students apply the knowledge and understanding gained in Unit 1 and develop skills and understanding in computational thinking with reference to algorithms, programming techniques, producing robust programs, computational logic and translators.
How the course is assessed:
Students will complete regular assessments in lesson and complete programming tasks during the course to develop their skills to design, write, test and refine programs. At the end of Year 11, Unit 1 and Unit 2 are assessed with two 90-minute written exams, each with an equal weighting of 50% of the final GCSE grade.