Business and ICT
ICT
The ICT Department at Wanstead High School strives to provide students with the latest technology to ensure that they have the opportunity to gain all the relevant ICT experiences they will need to assist them in their future careers.
The school has recently invested heavily in ICT infrastructure and currently has five ICT suites allowing students to gain practical experience of hardware and software. All students have their own network accounts with filtered Internet access. The school network is equipped with the latest industry standard software which is updated regularly, providing students with experience in using some of the most commonly used applications across the globe
ICT at KS3
At Key Stage 3 all students follow a curriculum which covers ICT, Computing & Media. Students are encouraged to develop their thinking and problem solving skills through the following themes: ‘Living with ICT’, ‘Using spread sheets’, ‘Programming’, ‘Databases’, ‘Web Development & Animation’.
ICT at KS4
Cambridge Nationals ICT level ½
This is a vocationally-related qualification that takes an engaging, practical and inspiring approach to learning and assessment. The everyday use of ICT, from PCs to smartphones, now impacts all of our lives. This new Cambridge Nationals in ICT qualification reflects this and provides students with a solid understanding of the subject which they can use in their working lives. Three themes are covered: ‘Business Information Systems’, ‘Creative’ and ‘Technical’ use.
GCSE
This is an innovative specification taking into consideration the technology we are surrounded by in today’s society. On the new GCSE ICT course students will learn about Digital Tools and the Digital World.
The Edexcel GCSE in ICT (Single Award) has a clear linear structure and aims to enable students to understand up-to-date, engaging content including mobile phones, Netbook, Cloud Computing, VoIP (e.g. Skype)
Format:
One written exam (worth 40% of total marks)
One Controlled Assessment Brief (coursework) (worth 60% of total)
Units covered in this course:
Unit 1: Living in a Digital World (Exam)
In this unit, students explore how digital technology impacts on the lives of individuals, organisations and society. They learn about current and emerging digital technologies and the issues raised by their use in a range of contexts (learning and earning, leisure, shopping and money management, health and wellbeing and on the move). They develop an awareness of the risks that are inherent in using ICT and the features of safe, secure and responsible practice.
Unit 2 Using Digital Tools (CAB)
This is a practical unit. Students broaden and enhance their ICT skills and capability. They work with a range of digital tools and techniques to produce effective ICT solutions in a range of contexts. They learn to reflect critically on their own and others’ use of ICT and to adopt safe, secure and responsible practice.
The Edexcel GCSE in ICT (Double Award) offers opportunities for progression such as:
Related qualifications at Level 3, for example in GCE Applied ICT BTEC National Diplomas in ICT Employment within the ICT sector and related industries
ICT at KS5
What is Edexcel AS Applied ICT?
All Edexcel GCE qualifications in Applied ICT are designed to give learners broad skills, knowledge and understanding of the ICT sector. In particular, they will encourage learners to develop:
A broad range of ICT skills and knowledge of the uses of ICT in vocational contexts, as a basis for progression into further learning in ICT-related fields, including progression from AS to A2knowledge and understanding of the components, functions and applications of information systems within a range of organizations.
The course provides students with an understanding of the main principles of solving problems using ICT and the development of skills necessary to apply this understanding.
In addition, Advanced GCE specifications encourage learners to apply their knowledge and understanding of ICT and use skills (e.g. planning, research, evaluation, problem solving) in vocational contexts whilst developing an understanding of the impact of information systems on organisations’ personnel, policies and practices.
Business Studies
Business Studies students investigate real businesses and the global and changing world context in which they operate. Students learn the practicalities, such as the numbers behind the business, but also why some succeed when others fail. For example, life has been tough for firms of late, but why have some, such as Apple, thrived during the recent recession? We consider an array of analytical tools that can be used to understand any business providing students with a good understanding of how businesses work and how they fit into the wider world.
Business Studies KS4
GCSE Business Studies takes a fairly traditional approach and the coursework element has been replaced by a controlled assessment. The focus remains on the real world with students gaining a good understanding of how businesses operate and the problems they encounter.
GCSE Business Studies is all about making it real! So that students can get the best possible insight into how businesses are run students are encouraged to get some hands on experience. This could be gained through setting up a business, a visit to a company, attending presentations or listening to guest speakers.
In addition to acquiring excellent subject knowledge, this course will:
* Provide students with an understanding of the commercial world and how finance is raised and used by the government to pay for the nation's goods and services.
* Encourage students to consider the practical application of business and economic concepts
* Explore the theories and concepts in the context of events in the business and economic world
* Provide opportunities to progress to A-level Business Studies, A-level Economics and A-level Applied Business
The Course Covers:
Unit 1 – Setting up a Business
This Unit is an introduction to issues concerning the setting up and operation of a business. It explores the activities of business and the reasons for success or failure. It encourages students to appreciate that businesses must operate within society and that this involves businesses engaging with a wide range of stakeholders who will hold differing perspectives. Whilst studying this Unit students will have the opportunity to put theory into practice by setting up and running a Mini-Enterprise!
Unit 2 – Growing as a Business
This Unit builds on the content of Unit 1 allowing students to study businesses as they grow and the issues that expansion raises.
Unit 3 – Controlled Assessment – Investigating Businesses
This Unit is a controlled assessment unit. The work must be each individual student’s work and individual response. AQA provide centres with pre-released material which students will be required to use to undertake a Business Investigation.
Business Studies KS5
The A Level Business Studies course offered is AQA 2131. There are two units studied at AS Level in Year 12 and two units are assessed in year 13. The focus is initially on small and medium-sized enterprises but progresses to the national and international context. The emphasis throughout is very much on topical business issues.
Beyond A Level for Business Studies Students
Students of Business Studies can go on to a range of related courses at university and college such as Business Administration, Business Management, Marketing or Finance. They may pursue related careers or even feel they have the basis for setting up their own business.
Sources of information for students and parents
http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/type/cambridge_nationals/ict/ict/
http://web.aqa.org.uk/qual/gce/business.php
http://www.edexcel.com/quals/gcse/gcse10/ict/Pages/default.aspx
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/business
http://www.businessstudiesonline.co.uk/
http://www.tutor2u.net/revision_notes_business_gcse.htm
http://www.teach-ict.com/index.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/ict/
http://www.reviseict.co.uk/ks3/index.shtml
Enrichment Opportunities
Students may attend ICT club at lunchtimes, supervised by ICT staff, in which they can get support with developing their ICT skills or completing homework tasks. After school enrichment is currently focused on supporting coursework completion in Key Stage 4.
