Exam Board: Edexcel

Type of course:  BTEC Technical Award Level 1/2

How is the course assessed?

BTEC Enterprise comprises of two internally assessed portfolios worth 30% each of the course. In Year 11, pupils will sit an externally assessed examination worth 40% of the course.

Gradings - Level 1 Pass, Level 1 Merit, Level 1 Distinction and Level 2 Pass, Level 2 Merit, Level 2 Distinction and Level 2 Distinction *

What topics/ units will you study?

Component 1: This is an internally assessed piece of coursework that explores current enterprises within the localised area. Pupils research small enterprises and assess how market research, characteristics, SWOT and PEST analysis’ can be used to keep ahead of their competitors.

Component 2: This is an internally assessed piece of coursework that allows pupils to research, plan and pitch their own enterprise activity. Pupils develop their ideas and plan a presentation, to be presented in front of staff. Pupils will require skills such as presenting to an audience, mathematical skills, IT skills and good timekeeping to allow them to meet strict deadlines.

Component 3: This is an externally set exam sat in Y11. This exam explores Marketing and Finance for Enterprises and covers financial, mathematical and marketing methods.

How to be successful

Be able to work meticulously, work well on your own and in groups, likes debating and discussing issues, and enjoys researching and keeping up to date with the news. You must be someone who enjoys mathematical calculations, learning new skills and wants to develop as an effective and independent pupil, and as a critical and reflective thinker. Pupils who enjoy a practical hands-on approach to studying and have an interest in business and may want to start their own business one day. Enquiring minds are a great asset and if you are someone who can work meticulously, work well on their own and in groups, then this qualification is for you.

 What extracurricular activities are there?

• The Mosaic Enterprise Challenge
• Enterprise activities in school
• The Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award
• Manchester United enterprise events

What opportunities does this qualification help you to have?

Pupils can continue on to Further Education and study courses such as A Level Business Studies, T Level Management and Administration, Vocational Business and Apprenticeships in Business Administration. These courses can open pathways into Hospitality, Management, Retail, Sales, Customer Service and many other careers. Applicants who can demonstrate a wide range of business skills are in demand by the employer. The course will help you to understand a range of career paths, such as apprenticeships and vocational qualifications which focus on more specialised business areas, as well as the role of different departments within a business.

Who can you speak to for more information or if you have any questions?

Mr. I. Grimshaw in 2W14, Miss. S. Maidment in 2Me2 or Mrs. S. Fiddler 1Me1

Exam Board: Edexcel

Type of course: GCSE

How is the course assessed?

GCSE Business is assessed via two externally assessed examinations. Paper 1 assesses Investigation into Small Businesses and Paper 2 assesses Building a Business. These examinations are worth 50% each of the course.

What topics / units will you study?

Paper 1 - Investigating Small Business 50%

• 1.1 Entrepreneurship and Enterprise
• 1.2 Spotting a Business Opportunity
• 1.3 Putting a Business Idea into Practice
• 1.4 Making a Business Effective
• 1.5 Influences on Business

Paper 2 - Building a Business  50%

• 2.1 Growing a Business
• 2.2 Making a Marketing Decision
• 2.3 Operational and Financial Decisions
• 2.4 Making Human Resource Decisions

How to be successful

Be able to work meticulously, work well on your own and in groups, likes debating and discussing issues, and enjoys researching and keeping up to date with the news. You must be someone who enjoys mathematical calculations, learning new skills and wants to develop as an effective and independent pupils, and as a critical and reflective thinkers with enquiring minds.

What extracurricular activities are there?

• The Mosaic Enterprise Challenge
• Enterprise activities in school
• The Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award
• Manchester United enterprise events

What opportunities does this qualification help you to have?

Pupils can continue on to Further Education and study courses such as A Level Business Studies, T Level Management and Administration, Vocational Business and Apprenticeships in Business Administration. These courses can open pathways into Hospitality, Management, Retail, Sales, Customer Service, Business Management and many other careers.

Applicants who can demonstrate a wide range of business skills are in demand by the employer. The course will help you to understand a range of career paths, such as apprenticeships and vocational qualifications which focus on more specialised business areas. As well as the role of different departments within a business.

Who can you speak to for more information or if you have any questions?

Mr. I. Grimshaw in 2W14, Miss. S. Maidment in 2Me2, or Mrs. S. Fiddler in 1Me1

Exam Board: OCR

Type of course:   GCSE

How is the course assessed?

2 examinations (1 hr 30 each) worth 50% each of the course

What topics/ units will you study?

Paper 1 - Computer Systems 50%

• 1.1 Systems Architecture
• 1.2 Memory and Storage
• 1.3 Computer networks, connections and protocols
• 1.4 Systems Software
• 1.5 Ethical, legal, cultural and environmental impacts of digital technology

 Paper 2 - Computational thinking, algorithms and programming 50%

• 2.1 Algorithms
• 2.2 Programming fundamentals
• 2.3 Producing robust programs
• 2.4 Boolean logic
• 2.5 Programming languages and Integrated Development Environments

How to be successful

Someone who enjoys programming/coding can work well as part of a team or on their own. They enjoy solving problems and learning about how computers work.  This course is predominantly theory-based, which involves mathematical theory, and pupils will be given the opportunity to learn to program in Python to develop the skills required for Paper 2. Pupils should have a love for theoretical studies.

What extracurricular activities are there?

• Coding club
• Digital Leaders
• Robotics club

What opportunities does this qualification help you to have?

Pupils can continue on to Further Education and study courses such as A Level Business Studies, T Level Management and Administration, Vocational Business and Apprenticeships in Business Administration. These courses can open pathways into Hospitality, Management, Retail, Sales,Customer Service and many other careers. Applicants who can demonstrate a wide range of business skills are in demand by the employer. The course will help you to understand a range of career paths, such as apprenticeships and vocational qualifications which focus on more specialised business areas. As well as the role of different departments within a business.

Who can you speak to for more information or if you have any questions?

Mrs. I. Grimshaw in 2W14 or Mr. A. Slattery in 2W17.

*Only a small number of our pupils will study the Computer Science course. Pupils must-be working above age related expectations and be on track/ exceeding their target in all subjects to be considered for this course.

Exam Board: Edexcel

Type of course:   BTEC Technical Award Level 1/2

How is the course assessed?                                                                                                                                               

 The BTEC Level 2 Tech Award is equivalent to a GCSE over a two-year qualification. There are three components that you will be covering, two coursework units in Year 10 and one exam in Year 11.

These are:

• Component 1 – Using interface design principles
• Component 2 – Developing a visual user dashboard and interpreting data
• Component 3 – Introduction to modern technologies

What topics / units will I study?

Component 1: (Coursework assignment assessed) Using interface design principles

What techniques do people use to plan projects.  How do people develop a variety of user interfaces (coursework assignment assessed) and create bespoke interfaces based on a given scenario?

Component 2: (Assignment assessed) Developing a visual user dashboard and interpreting data

This unit is about presenting and interpreting data. Pupils will be provided with a series of data to   manipulate and develop into a visual user dashboard and evaluate how the data could be used.

Component 3 – (Exam assessed; 2hr exam) Introduction to modern technologies

The final unit introduces you to modern technologies, including cloud-based technology, cybersecurity, implications of digital systems and planning and communication skills.

How to be successful

Pupils who enjoy a practical hands-on approach to studying or someone who can work meticulously and works well on their own and in groups. Pupils must have good organisational skills and be good timekeepers to ensure strict deadlines are met. Pupils who enjoy research tasks and have a creative flair would benefit from this course.

What extracurricular activities are there?

• Coding club competitions
• Digital experience days
• Robotics club

What opportunities does this qualification help you to have?

Pupils can continue on to Further Education and study courses such as A Level Computer Science, T Level Digital Support Services and Vocational Information Technology. These courses can open pathways into Programming, Game Designer, App Designer, ICT Support, Web Designer, First Line IT Support.

Employers like applicants who can demonstrate sound ICT skills, who can demonstrate problem-solving and organisational skills. You will learn programming skills using a range of languages and tools.

Who can you speak to for more information or if you have any questions?

Mr. I. Grimshaw in 2W14 or Mr. A. Slattery in 2W