Business Studies
The Business Studies department is one of the three specialist areas within the school. The department currently consists of three full time, well-qualified business specialists and is strongly supported with enterprise delivery across the school. In September 2008 we moved into some excellent, state of the art facilities in the 2nd phase of a new school build, comprising of one ICT room, one business classroom (with 30 laptops) and a dedicated conference room.
In KS3 the department has a significant role in embedding enterprise skills within the school offering focused enterprise lessons and qualifications, through the BTEC Workskills qualification. Topic areas include enterprise in the workplace, personal finance and the development of key enterprise skills.
In Years 10 and 11 students follow the BTEC First Certificate in Business Studies including key module areas such as Introduction to Business, Customer Service and Business Finance. Over the last four years many of our students have had the opportunity to follow the Young Apprenticeship Scheme in Business Administration which has been a thoroughly enriching and worthwhile opportunity for them. We now look forward to the imminent introduction of the new Business Administration and Finance Diploma which will also provide an exciting platform from which students can develop a variety of transferable skills and well as build on their knowledge of business.
Post 16 provision offers our students the opportunity to continue in the subject area through Applied GCE in Business. Key modules address a wide range of theoretical topics including Investigating Marketing, People in Business, Business Start-up, Organising an Event and External Influences on Business. Such units have been specifically selected in order to benefit the school and the local community, as well as the students themselves. For example, students recently took part in a high-profile, nation-wide competition from the BBC. Our students had to conduct and produce a Question Time style event, which meant inviting key business figures as well as members of the public to take part.
The Business Studies department strives to achieve excellent results and works together as a very supportive team involving a wide range of business partners including Newcastle United, Access Training and the Arcadia group. It is our aim to develop an exciting, realistic and lively environment for all learners, giving students the opportunity to develop their learning outside of the classroom as well as in.
