Business Studies KS3/KS4

Business Key Stage 3&4

The aim of the Business Innovation programme is to make the connection between school and the world of work, enabling young people to develop the knowledge and attitudes they need to succeed, building on 8 key skills:

Communication
Confidence
Financial Capability
Initiative
Organisation
Problem-solving
Teamwork
Resilience

Staff involved-

Miss Jenna Boden
Mrs Karen Towe
Mr Karl O'Hagan
Mr Ryan Dineen

Key Stage 3

In St. John the Baptist’s College, we now offer this programme to all Key Stage 3 pupils. An outline of course content is detailed below:

Year 8

Pupils will be able to incorporate and improve ICT skills through developing knowledge and understanding of the following:

Identify businesses
Identify what businesses do
Recognise the difference between business owners-Soletraders, Partnerships, Shareholders
Recognise the difference between private/public limited companies, Franchises and charities
Understand why businesses set up/exist
Conduct a class survey
Display results of a survey using ICTStudents should be aware of when to select and use appropriate software for spreadsheets, databases and word-processing software.
Students should understand the difference between qualitative and quantitative information.
Students should be able to create graphics.
Students should be able to combine text and graphics in a variety of ways.
Students should be able to use word processing effectively in a variety of situations
Students should be able to use spreadsheets appropriately
Students should be able to create charts using a variety of formats and insert titles and legends
Identify how a business decides what to sell
Explain how businesses set their price
Be able to work out profit margins
Recognise different methods of promotion
Identify how a business sells its products
Explain imports and exports
Recognize good customer service
Identify some safeguards for customers
Design a leaflet
Use all features in Publisher

Year 9

Pupils will be able to incorporate and improve ICT skills through developing knowledge and understanding of the following:

Identify why production takes place
Explain the difference between goods and services
Gain a knowledge of where goods come from
Understand the difference between primary, secondary and tertiary production
Explain why businesses choose particular locations
Understand what is meant by the Chain of production
Design a booklet using ICT
Recognise the 4 factors of production
List the methods of producing goods
Understand how production has changed over time
Describe CAD and CAM

Pupils will take participate in an internal Enterprise and Innovation programme. Through this programme pupils will:

Work in small groups and start up their own mini company
Work together to come up with a company name
Pupils will create a mission statement for their company
Pupils will come up with a slogan
Pupils will design a company logo
Pupils will assign each other a role in the mini company
Pupils will research and come up with a product idea
Pupils will design and complete their own market research
Pupils will decide on a price for their product
Pupils will set up their stall and sell their products to their peers and members
Pupils will evaluate their own performance

Year 10

Pupils will be able to incorporate and improve ICT skills through developing knowledge and understanding of the following:

Recognise the reasons businesses need money
Identify business premises
Produce a spreadsheet
Use all features of spreadsheet
Explain how businesses get money
Gain a knowledge of how businesses record money
Recognise the different methods of payment
Understand how profit and losses are calculated
Understand why businesses need people
Identify how businesses find people to recruit
Gain a knowledge of the selection process
Complete an application form
Complete a CV
Explain what is meant by the term reference
Understand the interview process
Recognise rewards for working
Identify the elements of a contract of employment
Understand the responsibilities of employers
Give reasons why employees get dismissed
Understand the reasons why employees use trade unions
Be familiar with the Health and Safety at Work Act

KS4 Overview

Key Stage 4 Business: At Key Stage 4 we currently offer two business related courses:

Business and Communication Systems

The CCEA GCSE Business and Communication Systems specification introduces students to the business world. They also explore the changing role of digital technology in business today.

Students learn about file management and applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, databases, web authoring, web browsing, email and presentation software. They also study types of business, recruitment, selection, training, marketing, the role of stakeholders and customers, and how best to communicate a message.

Students then have an opportunity to connect all they have learned to plan and develop a digital solution for a business.

A qualification in Business and Communication Systems could lead to further study or a career in business, digital technology or ICT.

Assessment is through one computer-based exam worth 40% of the final mark, one written exam worth 35% and a controlled assessment unit worth 25%.

This specification is unitised, so it’s possible to take part of the assessment at the end of the first year of study.

This qualification builds on the knowledge, understanding and skills developed through the Learning for Life and Work Area of Learning and the Cross-Curricular Skill of Using ICT.

The specification has three units:

Unit 1: Software Applications for Business
Unit 2: The Business Environment
Unit 3: Developing Digital Solutions

Unit 1: Software Applications for Business

Software applications play a vital role in business. They add value by increasing efficiency and they can reduce the amount of time tasks take and improve record keeping. They can also enhance the ways in which businesses communicate with their stakeholders. In this unit, students learn about relevant functions in software applications and develop their skills in using them in business contexts. When using software applications, students should be aware of standard ways of working and best practice approaches.

Unit 2: The Business Environment

In this unit, students gain a broad introduction to the business world. They learn about recruitment, selection, training and marketing, as well as the implications of digital technology for business. Students consider different roles, including stakeholders and customers, as well as how best to communicate a message. They look at all these factors in the context of the changing nature of business today.

Unit 3: Developing Digital Solutions

In this unit, students use the skills they have developed in Units 1 and 2 to plan and develop a digital solution for a business. This unit is synoptic; it tests students’ understanding of the connections between the different elements of the subject.

OCN Business

The aim of the OCN NI Level 2 Award, Certificate, Extended Certificate and Diploma in Skills for Business is to allow learners to develop the knowledge, understanding and key skills required to work within a business setting. These qualifications provide an engaging, practical and relevant introduction to the world of business today.

Currently, the 4 units studied by pupils in SJBC are:

Unit 1:Understanding Business Structures

Unit 2:Business Aims and Objectives

Unit 3:Marketing Mix and Competition

Unit 4:Recruitment and Selection

Enterprise Challenge

16th Mar 2022

Today we had Prince’s Trust representatives in helping students participate...