Computing

The Computer science and ICT curriculum aim is to develop student’s digital literacy skills allowing learners to be competent in using technology effectively. Creating an environment of trial-and-error students will be asked to problem solve, think logically, and create various products to meet user requirements.

Covering a range of topics starting with digital literacy skills to develop an understanding and ability to perform well across multiple subjects inside and outside of school. Embedded skills alongside fundamental topics of computing include e-safety, hardware and programming concepts gives students a foundation to build upon. Exposing learners to multiple disciplines is intended to inform decisions later in their academic lives about careers and future study.

Year 9 covers concepts such as security and networking and provides a full KS3 curriculum enabling some learners who may stop their journey in the computing department and opt for other subjects to understand and possibly gain employment in roles requiring digital competence.

Business Studies

Business education equips students with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the modern business world. This includes understanding how to manage finances, market products and services, and make strategic business decisions. The intent is to spark students’ imagination and inspire commercial thinking as they develop their business knowledge. Additionally, business education can also provide students with an understanding of the social and ethical responsibilities of businesses, as well as the economic and political factors that shape the business environment. 

GCSE Business includes:

Understand the Business World: It offers a fundamental understanding of how businesses operate, introducing you to concepts like marketing, finance, operations, and human resources. This knowledge is valuable, regardless of whether you plan to pursue a career in business or not.

Apply knowledge to the Real-World: The skills and knowledge gained from studying GCSE Business are applicable in various real-world scenarios. Students will apply learning to different types and sizes of businesses in local, national and global contexts

Access Career Opportunities: It provides a solid foundation if you're considering a career in business-related fields such as marketing, accounting, management, or entrepreneurship. Employers often value candidates with a basic understanding of business principles.

Improve Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving: Business studies encourage critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Analysing case studies and understanding market trends can enhance your ability to think logically and strategically.

Develop as enterprising individuals: Students are shown how to think commercially and creatively to demonstrate business acumen, and draw on evidence to make informed business decisions and solve business problems

Develop a Global Perspective: It can provide insights into the global economy, international trade, and how businesses operate on a global scale. In today's interconnected world, understanding global business dynamics is increasingly important.

Further Personal Development: Studying business can also aid in personal development, fostering skills such as communication, teamwork, and leadership, which are valuable in any career path.

Creative iMedia

Media falls into various categories throughout the school at KS3. At KS4 students have the option to study media in further depth and develop their creative digital skills. The intention is to give students a range of creative skills and exposure to various tools and techniques. Allowing students to express themselves and demonstrate solutions which meet requirements. Preparing learners for industry students are given problems and case studies with the focus on meeting clients.

Computing

Implementing a computer science curriculum which lends itself to developing student’s practical IT skills is the focus for KS3.

The range of topics which learners’ study and re-cap all contain micro tasks and problem-solving tasks. Intended to develop logical thinking, topical scenarios reinforce trial and error situations for students to develop, manipulate and test their own products. Teaching the curriculum involves tasks such as programming and coding where the intention is to provide freedom of expression. Mistakes are encouraged and dealing with the frustrations the key to the “lightbulb moment”.  Scaffolded with the use of tutorials and walk throughs to help all learners. Delivery of computing topics is PC based with work stored on leaners areas to encourage ownership and gain file management skills to go alongside the necessary computer science knowledge.

Business Studies

The course begins with an exploration of how and why businesses start, moving through to the issues and decisions businesses make as they grow.

Theme 1 concentrates on the key business concepts, issues and skills involved in starting and running a small business. It provides a framework for students to explore core concepts through the lens of an entrepreneur setting up a business. In this theme, students will be introduced to local and national business contexts and will develop an understanding of how these contexts impact business behaviour and decisions.

Students will develop an understanding of the interdependent nature of business activity through interactions between business operations, finance, marketing and human resources, as well as the relationship between the business and the environment in which it operates.

Theme 2 examines how a business develops beyond the start-up phase. It focuses on the key business concepts, issues and decisions used to grow a business, with emphasis on aspects of marketing, operations, finance and human resources. In this theme, students will be introduced to national and global business contexts and will develop an understanding of how these contexts impact business behaviour and decisions.

Creative iMedia

Implementation of media occurs with scenarios and tasks which require research, design, implementation and evaluation. Studying topics which develop graphical skills and using photo editing software combined with design / storyboarding techniques.

Computing

We undertake regular assessments throughout the year on all the topics covered. This allows us to compare student performance across the whole cohort. Students will be able to apply their knowledge, ideas and skills in both further education and in the real world. Our aim is to ensure that students will gain positive progress in all subjects and groupings and maximise attainment so that students are able to pursue a further career in this area should they choose to.

Business Studies

Overall, GCSE Business has the potential to equip students with practical knowledge and skills that can benefit them both academically and professionally.

Students will develop an Entrepreneurial Mindset through learning about business start-ups, innovation, and risk-taking. This can inspire students to consider entrepreneurship as a viable career option.

For those interested in pursuing higher education in business-related fields, GCSE Business can lay a strong foundation for further studies in subjects like economics, business management, marketing, or finance and for students not planning to pursue a career in business, the skills acquired through GCSE Business, such as communication, teamwork, and financial literacy, are highly transferable and beneficial in any profession.

Creative iMedia

We undertake regular assessments throughout the year and practical skills demonstrated. Students will be able to apply their knowledge, ideas and skills in both further education and in the real world scenarios.