Business and Communications
The Business and Communications Learning Zone at The Bushey Academy offers a range of courses to meet the needs and preferences of students.The Business and Communications Learning Zone aims to provide students with a range of high quality courses that prepare them for the changing needs of
industry, commerce and public services or for progression to higher education. The department develops in students the practical skills and personal qualities relevant to all aspects of working life, assisting them to be flexible in their response to the changing demands of business and society. Working in conjunction with industry and commerce, the department promotes in students a positive and pro-active attitude towards their academic achievement and personal conduct in order to maximise each individual's potential in the academic and working world.
Staff
- Mr M Stritter (Head of Business Studies)
- Mr S Ruiters (Head of ICT)
- Mr P Ellis
- Mr W Logie
- Ms S Kelly
- Mr A Hemmings (Academy Principal)
Why study business?
Every time you buy a bar of chocolate, take a bus ride home or work a shift at your local supermarket, you are playing an important part in the workings of the business world. Studying Business will give you an appreciation and understanding of the business world and will help you get the most out of your roles of customer, employee and maybe later on, employer.
Opting for Business Studies will give you the opportunity to find answers to the following types of question:
- How are marketing campaigns put together? How do businesses design new products?
- How do businesses make sure that they recruit the right staff?
- How can businesses motivate their employees?
- How and why are the types of jobs available in our economy changing?
- How do businesses work out how well they have been performing?
- How do businesses raise finance?
- How are company accounts put together?
So why is it important for you to study and understand these things?
Firstly, they are interesting real issues that affect our everyday lives and secondly, and, at least of equal importance, it is in all our interests that the business world operates in a fair and successful manner. Well-informed customers, employees and employers will help this to happen.
Teaching methods
Like all departments at The Bushey Academy, the Business Studies subject staff seek to vary the ways in which they help the students learn, mixing role plays, discussions, group work, IT sessions and presentations with the more traditional style of lesson as appropriate. Through a structured programme of exercises and work in lessons, students will be encouraged to develop a wide range of study skills necessary for both higher education and the world of work: listening, note taking, report writing, teamwork, talking in front of others and many more besides.
Profiling and reporting
In line with other departments around the school, the Business Studies department has a profiling and reporting system to help students realistically assess their progress, identify their strengths and weaknesses and plan their approach to work for the future. These are both informal, for example, teachers looking at drafts before a final piece of coursework are handed in and giving feedback, and formal as part of the school assessment and reporting system.
Career opportunities after The Bushey Academy
Perhaps the beauty of the courses offered by the Business Studies department is the sheer breadth of potential careers covered. Students will gain insights into marketing, production management, accounting and finance, personnel and general management. All of these may lead into related employment or onto a higher education course with the emphasis on their preferred discipline (most Business Studies degrees will allow students to specialise in one or two areas once they have studied a common core). The course may not have an obvious link at first sight, but there is plenty in Business Studies in terms of skills as well as knowledge that will be relevant to any number of careers that students may be interested in.
What courses are on offer?
At The Bushey Academy we offer a range of courses at different levels:
In Year 7 all students will undertake a Business with Communications course which will include all the ICT core curriculum requirements at key stage 3.
In Year 8 students will continue with Business with Communications and further their understanding of personal finance and economics well-being. This will also incorporate furthering their ICT skills with additional elements of citizenship, literacy, numeracy and enterprise capabilities.
In Year 9 all students will undertake the BTEC Level 2 Extended Certificate in Business. This is the equivalent of 2 GCSEs at A*-C and all students will be expected to gain this qualification. In the first year students will study two units, Business Purposes and Business Organisations. In the second year students will study Customer Relations in Business and Business Online.
Year 10 students will be completing the second year of either their GCSE Business & Communication Systems or OCR National ICT courses which will provide them with a qualification by end of Year. There will also be the option of taking GCSE Business & Economics and GCSE ICT.
Year 11 students who opted for Business in Year 10 will be completing the second year of their BTEC 1st Diploma in Business. On completion this is the equivalent of 4 A*-C grade GCSEs.
At key stage 5 we will be offering the new Diploma qualification in Business, Administration and Finance. This course suits students who need to improve their qualifications before moving on to a higher level of study, or students who are looking for a qualification which will help them gain entry into the workplace. The Diploma is the equivalent of 7 GCSEs and students also have to complete level 2 functional skills qualifications in Maths, English and ICT.
At Advanced Level we offer AS/A2 Business Studies and AS/A2 ICT. We will also be completing A2 accounting this year.
We also offer enrichment activities to key stage 5 students through enterprise programmes including Young Enterprise and Young Chamber of Commerce. During the past year students have performed magnificently at the University of Hertfordshire, Business Challenge Day finishing in 2nd place for the whole event. Students have also organised two fashion shows and a Valentine's Day concert.