GCSE Business Studies - The Business Studies department would like to congratulate all those students that completed the GCSE Business Studies course, the exam results were very pleasing and reflected the hard work & determination all of you put in over the months running up to the exam. We wish you all the best in higher education or employment – well done!

Those entering year 11 are nearing the end of their coursework based on a business plan for their chosen business. Students have produced some really impressive work – persevere and it will pay off – well done! 

The new Year 10’s have just started their coursework and will be producing a business plan on their chosen business, aimed at 14-16 year olds in the local area. 

A Level Business - Welcome back to the new A2 Business Students. Results have been pleasing and your continued hard work now needs to be maintained through the A2 course, where we will now build on areas taught at AS. Remember constant review of class notes and reading the course textbook will help develop your understanding. This years A2 students passed with flying colours, 100% of the students obtained a grade A-C! 

Year 10 & 11 National Award - The year 10s have just started on their first unit which focuses on ‘Communication in Business’, they will learn about the various ways businesses communicate and will build a portfolio of evidence ready for moderation in December. Other units of study will be ‘Investigating Business’ and ‘E-business’, where students get to design their own website for their work experience placement. This course requires students to keep to deadlines to achieve the best grade possible. 

The year 11s have completed 2 of the 3 units and have achieved some excellent grades. They have just started Unit 9, E-Business, where they are starting to design their website for their work experience placement. I have been really impressed with the way you have all taken to the course and hope this enthusiasm continues. We will also hopefully be running the Young Enterprise Scheme within lessons where the class will operate as their own organisation, this is a great way to get a feel for what Business is really about. 

Year12 National Certificate in Business - This year’s students worked diligently and achieved some great results. Congratulations to the whole class who either achieved or exceeded their target grades, this is a huge achievement and one that you should be very proud of. All students worked extremely well which reflected in their results – best of luck for the future. 

The new Year 12 National Business class have just got underway with their first 2 units; Investigating Business & Communication in Business. It is vital that all deadlines are met, satisfying the requirements of the assessment objective to achieve your potential. Students will also be preparing for finding a suitable work experience placement in the field of their choice, this placement will run from this term until Easter. 

Finally we would just like to welcome a new addition to the department, Mr Hannaford, who has joined us after completing his teacher training at Bristol. He will be teaching Year 10 Business, A-level Business and Applied Leisure. - We hope you enjoy your new post!!!!

 Miss K Smith & Mrs S Gambier

HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE NEWS 

Welcome to new students at GCSE, National certificate and A Level.  We hope that you find the course, you have chosen, both enjoyable and challenging. 

Due to changes in our Department and Curriculum Team, you may have noticed that our Department name has changed in recent months.  We are now called the Health, Social Care and Early Years Department to incorporate all subjects taught and learnt.  In addition, this section of the newsletter has been written by Mrs Faull after she took up the post of Teacher in Charge from September. 

Since starting in September, Years 10 and 11 students studying Child Development at GCSE level have been pleased to discover that they will be able to take our Virtual Baby home this year.  The doll (who has been named ‘Holly’ after Holyrood) cries for attention, food and to have it’s nappy changed.  It is designed to teach the students about the needs of a newborn baby in all it’s screaming glory!  We hope that the students are up to the challenge! 

Those studying for GCSE Health and Social Care in Year 10 have organised a person to study for their coursework recently.  If you have been chosen, please accept my thanks for the help you will be giving them in advance.  Your contribution is vital to the students gaining a grade which reflects their abilities in the subject. 

Students studying the National Certificate will have organised their work placement in the last couple of weeks.  They will now attend every Tuesday.  The work placement is either in a residential home or with an early years provider e.g. playgroup.  We have found that in previous years, the students have enjoyed their placement and felt that it enabled them to understand the theory (learnt in school) in more depth and from a practical point of view. 

Those students studying the AS level have also been encouraged to organise a work placement for approximately 2 hours per week.  This should be taken during non-taught sessions.  Similarly to the National Certificate, it will help them to develop their knowledge and understanding from a practical viewpoint. 

Good luck to all students this year, whether you are studying a new subject or continuing at a higher level.                                                                                                             

 Mrs K Faull