Business, Economics & Computing

Business Intent

The Business environment is an ever-changing one. Businesses must deal with the problems of increasing costs, high interest rates and competing businesses. We wish to equip our students with the skills to meet with confidence these challenges of the dynamic business world.

In order to establish a sound foundation for the subject, GCSE students learn about the purpose of business and why businesses exist. They study the basic functions and types of businesses, business and entrepreneurship and examine the dynamic nature of business. They then learn about the influences on business. This unit of the course is quite flexible, as the economic situation is constantly changing and evolving. Students study concepts such as interest rates, inflation and exchange rates. They are encouraged to analyse and evaluate these economic variables. This unit includes examining ethical and environmental considerations. We believe it is essential that students are aware of the environmental damage that is caused by business activity and how it is the responsibility of all businesses to minimise their environmental impact.

Having established this understanding of the basics of business, students then study the four functions of Operations, Human Resources, Marketing and Finance. Students apply their knowledge and understanding to different business contexts ranging from small enterprises to large multinationals and businesses operating in local, national and global contexts.

We offer both A-Level Business and BTEC Business at Loreto. BTEC Business offers students a more vocational, practical option than traditional A-Level subjects. BTEC Business embodies a learner-centred approach to the curriculum, with a flexible, unit-based structure and knowledge applied in project-based assessments. It focuses on the holistic development of the practical, interpersonal and thinking skills required to be able to succeed in employment and higher education.

The A-Level course builds on the GCSE course. Students who have studied GCSE business will find that they explore the basic concepts learned at GCSE in greater depth. However, it is not essential that students have studied GCSE Business. The course is taught in a way that caters to the needs of both those who have a basic understanding of Business and those who have never studied the subject.

Year 12 students learn about the nature and purpose of business, forms of business, the external environment within which businesses operate, management, leadership and decision making. They study the role and importance of stakeholders. They then study the same functions (Operations, Human Resources, Marketing and Finance) that were studied at GCSE level.

By the time they begin Year 13, students will have developed a comprehensive understanding of business theory. They now explore strategic decision making in the four functional areas. They consider the impact of technology on strategic decision making, the influences of Corporate Social Responsibility, ethical and environmental issues on strategic decisions, the difficulties in forecasting future trends, the importance of assessing feasibility and risk when making strategic decisions and the impact on stakeholders of strategic decisions and their response to such decisions.

Throughout the teaching of Business in our school, we aim to foster in students a passion for the subject. Each student is encouraged to think beyond a basic knowledge of each topic and arrive at a deeper understanding. Students build analytical and evaluative skills, which enable them to confront the challenges of Business in the 21^st century.

Business Curriculum Maps

Btec Business Curriculum Maps

Economics Curriculum Maps

Computer Science Intent

In today’s fast-paced digital world, computer skills have become essential for almost every career. With the advent of new technologies and increasing reliance on digital platforms, employers seek candidates with strong computer skills.

We teach Computer Science across all Key Stages. Students begin Year 7 with varying levels of proficiency in Computing. We cater to all these needs. As well as teaching Computing at Key Stage 3, we teach some Business topics. This leads to students being able to make an informed decision on choosing two possible GCSE subjects: Business and Computer Science.

In Year 7, students are first taught Digital Literacy Skills. In this topic, they learn how to log on to the computer, how to use their email account and Teams. It is important that they learn this, as email and Teams form a key part of communication between teachers and students. They also learn the basics of Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel. Knowing how to operate these application programs will benefit them in school and throughout their careers, as they are commonly used in the world of work. They then learn the Computing topics of E-safety and Programming using MSW Logo and the Business topic of Setting up a business. In Year 8, students learn the Computing topics of E-safety, Computer Theory and Introduction to Programming. This last topic is particularly important, as programming forms a key part of Computer Science in Key Stages 3 and 4. Students can develop proficiency in the topic in Year 8 and then develop their skill in later years. Students also learn the Business topic of Recruitment and Selection. In Year 9, students learn the Computing topics of E-safety, Wired and Wireless Networks and Python Programming. Again, this last topic is arguably the most important one. Students are encouraged to select Computer Science as a GCSE subject if they find that they have an aptitude for programming. They also learn the Business topic of Business Finance.

GCSE students are encouraged to understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of Computer Science, analyse problems in computational terms, think creatively, innovatively, analytically, logically and critically. They are taught about the components that make up digital systems and how they communicate with one another and with other systems. They explore the impacts of digital technology on the individual and on wider society. The topics they learn include Computer systems, Computational thinking, algorithms and programming. A key part of the topic of Computer systems involves a study of the ethical, legal, cultural and environmental impacts of digital technology. It is extremely important that students are aware of the ethical, legal, cultural, environmental and privacy issues relating to digital technology.

We encourage students to study A-Level Computer Science to develop their mathematical and analytical skills, which are important for university courses including mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, computer science and graphical design. Students learn about the characteristics of processors, input, output and storage devices, types of software, software development techniques and types of programming languages, exchanging data between computer systems, data types, data structures and algorithms and legal, moral, cultural and ethical issues.

We consider it vital that all students study Computer Science so that they can meet with confidence the challenges of coping in a world where digital technology plays an increasingly important part.

Loreto College St Albans