Business and ICT

Richard Branson, Steve Jobs, Bill Gates. All great pioneers in the world of business and computing and all starting out with a clear goal built from the basis of a strong education.

You could be the next big name in these industries and our Business and Information Computer Technology (ICT) curriculum can provide the perfect education pathway for you to fulfil these dreams.

Incorporating the use of the latest technologies you will learn from our industry professional teaching staff in state of the art classrooms.

Students will benefit from not only high quality teaching but also progression support to enable you to achieve your future ambitions.

BUSINESS STUDIES

LEVEL 3

Do you want to understand how and why business owners make complex decisions? Are you curious, motivated and do you have lots of ideas? Would you like to understand how governments, consumers and other groups behave and why?

This course looks at how businesses are structured to make the best decisions for their customers, employees and shareholders. It looks at how markets, politics, economics, technology, law, environment and ethics as well as financial decisions can impact on a business. Marketing, Finance and Law are all interwoven to give students a broad overview of how businesses operate

Course duration:

Two years.

Entry requirements:

GCSE grade 4 and above in maths and English. Two other GCSEs at grade 4 and above. Level 2 Business Merit and above.

What students will learn:

Students will learn marketing, budgeting, finance and accounting, strategy, decision making, legal and ethical decision making using case studies and live examples from guest speakers

How students will learn:

Lessons are a mixture of theory and applied case studies and practice examples. Students will learn through research, discussion, sharing of ideas and opinion, guest speakers and case studies.

Assessment:

Written exams, course work, task assessment.

Student profile:

Enterprising, motivated by the whys, fact finding, curious, lots of ideas and willing to share them.

Enrichment opportunities:

Guest speakers, trips to key local businesses.

Possible combinations:

• Law • Criminology • Psychology • Graphics • Health and Care • Uniformed Services • ICT

Progression routes:

University, apprenticeship, work.

Potential university courses:

• Business Management • Law • Accounting and Finance • Marketing • Human Resources • New product development • ICT • Digital

Potential career paths:

• Business Ownership • Accounting • Solicitor • Patents and Licencing • Logistics • Marketing and Brand management • Sales • Human Resources • Office Management

BUSINESS

LEVEL 2

This course introduces students to a range of local and national businesses and what makes them successful or not! We use case studies to show why both profit and other success measures like looking after your staff, the environment and having good ethics makes businesses successful. We also consider how politics, economics, and technology influence business decisions.

Course duration:

One year.

Entry requirements:

Functional skills level 1, GCSE maths and English grade 3 and below. Curious minds and liking facts.

What students will learn:

Students learn about finance, market research, marketing, people management, using research to make decisions about a business and how it works, plus tools such as SWOT, 4Ps. Students finish their year with a final project where they come up with a business idea. We’ve had some great ideas from cakes to postcards, cat bedding to cashmere street wear and more!

How students will learn:

Lessons are a mixture of case studies, practice examples, discussions, individual and group work, guest speakers and research.

Assessment:

Written exams, course work, task assessment.

Student profile:

Students that are curious, questioning, wanting to move to level 3, high expectations and clear aims for the future.

Enrichment opportunities:

Guest speakers, trips to local businesses.

Possible combinations:

• Law and Criminology • Graphics • Science • Health and Care

Progression routes:

Level 3 Business Studies.

Potential university courses:

• Business management • Marketing • Human Resources • Accounting and finance • Entrepreneurship

Potential career paths:

• Business owner • Human Resources specialist • Office Manager • Accountant • Marketing manager • Sales • Logistics

ICT AND COMPUTING

LEVEL 3 TRIPLE

This qualification will help you to develop your knowledge, understanding and skills regarding the principles of IT and Global Information Systems. It will give you an insight into the IT sector while you learn about the technological changes occurring in our society, in terms of IT infrastructure and the global flow of information, as well as the legal and security aspects which govern the use of technology.

This course is the first year of a 2 year study programme which encompasses a wide range of centre assessed units with practical and wider project-based assessment opportunities, as well as examined units on the Fundamentals of IT, Global Information, Cyber Security, and Cloud Technology.

You will be able to demonstrate skills such as: writing specifications and the design, the build, the testing as well as the implementation of applications. Further transferable skills include communication, problem solving, time management, research and analytical skills.

This qualification will initially enable you to progress on to the second year of the course (Extended Diploma) with the aim to progress either on to university or the employment sector.

Course duration:

Two years

Entry requirements:

Five GCSEs at Grades 4 – 9. English and Mathematics GCSE Grade 4 or above.

Possible combinations:

As this is a triple course, it is a stand-alone course.

Progression routes:

A high percentage of our students progress on to university to study or gain employment within the computer industry.

IT ESSENTIALS

BTEC LEVEL 3 SINGLE

This course is the first year of a 2 year study programme which encompasses two examined units on the Fundamentals of IT and Global Information.

Further transferable skills include communication, problem solving, time management, research and analytical skills. This qualification focuses on the requirements that will enable you to progress onto the second year of the course with the aim to progress either on to university or the employment sector.

The course is made up of five units, two in the first year:

• Fundamentals of IT • Global Information

And three in the second year:

• Cyber Security • Product Development • Systems Analysis and Design.

Course duration:

Two years

Entry requirements:

Five GCSEs at Grades 4 – 9. English and Mathematics GCSE Grade 4 or above.

Possible combinations:

This is a single subject and you would select two other subjects, such as BTEC L3 Business (single) or BTEC L3 esports (single).

Progression routes:

A high percentage of our students progress on to university to study or gain employment within the computer industry.

ICT AND COMPUTING

LEVEL 2

This OCR Level 2 qualification is designed to provide specialist work-related qualifications in a range of sectors. It will give learners the knowledge, understanding and skills that they need to prepare for employment. The qualifications also provide career development opportunities for those already in work.

This is a practical, work-related course. You will learn by completing projects and assignments that are based on realistic workplace situations, activities and demands. It introduces you to the IT sector and provides a good basis to progress on to more advanced work-related qualifications.

Course duration:

One year

Entry requirements:

Five GCSEs at minimum Grade 2 to take this course, preferably a Grade 3 or above for English GCSE.

Possible combinations:

If you need to resit English or Maths GCSE then you will have the opportunity to do this alongside Level 2 IT. However, if you only need to resit one of these GCSEs you could study a further vocational subject such as Level 2 Business or Level 2 Law.

Entry requirements:

Progression on to Level 3 courses, such as a BTEC Level 3 ICT and Computing Courses, esports or employment/apprenticeships.

ESPORTS

LEVEL 3 TRIPLE

The esports industry is a fast-growing multi-million global industry. Therefore, it is essential to have a qualification that will give you a comprehensive insight into the professional field of organised competitive computer gaming, which is human versus human, either as individuals or in teams.

This course will provide an opportunity for the integration of social, physical, mental and financial skills into one qualification to deepen and expand your learning. These are skills that are highly valued in the changing and fluid workplace. You will be able to apply strategy, skill and teamwork to become highly successful.

Course duration:

Two years.

Entry requirements:

Five GCSEs including English and Maths at Grade 4 or above

What students will learn:

This is a career-focused qualification with industry endorsement that will enable you to learn underpinning knowledge, develop technical and transferable skills, and gain experience in a variety of different sections of the esports industry.

Possible combinations: This is a full-time course.

Progression routes:

The qualification is endorsed by the British Esports Association as being suitable for learners who want to work in this industry and is recognised by employers. This meaning that it will support your entry into the industry within a range of roles, whether this is through direct employment after the qualification has been achieved, or via apprenticeship, or after studying for a bachelor’s degree within higher education.

ESPORTS

LEVEL 3 SINGLE

This unique qualification will enable you to study a sector that crosses over many subject areas and different disciplines such as: sport; marketing; enterprise; IT and the creatives.

As a consequence of studying this qualification at Level 3, you will develop the breadth of knowledge, understanding and transferable skills to meet the demands required to be employed within the esports sector, or go on to further study.

Course duration:

Two years.

Entry requirements:

Five GCSEs including English and Maths at Grade 4 or above.

What students will learn:

This is a career-focused qualification with industry endorsement that will enable you to learn underpinning knowledge, develop technical and transferable skills, and gain experience in a variety of different sections of the esports industry.

Possible combinations:

Esports Level 3 Single could be mixed with any subject but in particular Business and IT.

Progression routes:

The qualification is endorsed by the British Esports Association for post-16 learners who want to work in this industry / other related industries and is recognised by employers. Meaning that this qualification will support your entry into the industry within a range of roles, whether this is through direct employment or via an apprenticeship after completion of the qualification.

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NEW FOR 2022/23