S5/S6 Business Education Dept

The Business Education department offers courses in:

  • Administration - Higher, Intermediate 2 and Intermediate 1
  • Business Management - Advanced Higher, Higher and Intermediate 2
  • PC Passport – Beginner and Intermediate Level
  • Enterprise – Access 3 and Intermediate 1

Business Management Advanced Higher

Recommended Entry

Students would normally be expected to have attained Higher Business Management at Grade A or B.

Course Details

Business and enterprise are at the heart of national growth and development. The study of Business Management places the key elements of management in a study of business as a whole and draws from a number of other disciplines. It will enable students to acquire knowledge and understanding of the role and operation of business, to exercise analytical skills, to employ these skills in real and simulated situations and to communicate by means of written or spoken language. This should benefit all students whether or not they subsequently follow a career in business.

This Course has 3 mandatory Units:

  • Managing Organisations: The External Environment (40 hours)
  • Managing Organisations: The Internal Environment (40 hours)
  • Researching a Business (40 hours)

Homework

Formal homework will issued weekly, however students will be expected to complete classroom exercises at home as and when required.

Next Steps

Students who pass Advanced Higher Business Management could progress to, National Certificate, HNC, HND, Degree course eg BA Business Administration, or enter employment in banking, insurance, accounts, administration.

Business Management Higher

Recommended Entry

Students would normally be expected to have attained Standard Grade Business Management at Credit level or Intermediate 2. Pupils may also gain entry if they have achieved English at Standard Grade Credit level, Intermediate 2 or Higher.

Course Details

Business and enterprise are at the heart of national growth and development. The study of Business Management places the key elements of management in a study of business as a whole and draws from a number of other disciplines. It will enable students to acquire knowledge and understanding of the role and operation of business, to exercise analytical skills, to employ these skills in real and simulated situations and to communicate by means of written or spoken language. This should benefit all students whether or not they subsequently follow a career in business.

This Course has 3 mandatory Units:

  • Business Enterprise (40 hours) : This unit is designed to enable students to analyse the role, purpose and decision making processes of business in contemporary society in light of developments in information technology.
  • Business Decision Areas: Marketing and Operations (40 hours) : This unit is designed to enable students to analyse the decisions which businesses must take about their marketing and operational activities in order to ensure that they meet their objectives.
  • Business Decision Areas: Finance and Human Resource Management (40 hours) : This unit is designed to enable students to analyse the decisions which businesses must take about their financial and human resource activities in order to ensure that they meet their objectives.

Homework

Formal homework will issued weekly, however students will be expected to complete classroom exercises at home as and when required.

Next Steps

The Course or its Units may provide progression to:

  • Advanced Higher Business Management
  • Higher National programmes
  • Higher education
  • Training or development
  • a range of employment eg banking, insurance, accounts, administration.

Business Management Intermediate 2

Recommended Entry

Students would normally be expected to have attained Business Management at Standard Grade General level or Intermediate 1. Pupils may also gain entry if they have achieved English at Standard Grade General level or Intermediate 1.

Course Details

Business and enterprise are at the heart of national growth and development. The study of Business Management places the key elements of management in a study of business as a whole and draws from a number of other disciplines. It will enable students to acquire knowledge and understanding of the role and operation of business, to exercise analytical skills, to employ these skills in real and simulated situations and to communicate by means of written or spoken language. This should benefit all students whether or not they subsequently follow a career in business.

This Course has 3 mandatory Units:

  • Business Enterprise (40 hours) : This unit is designed to enable students to analyse the role, purpose and decision making processes of business in contemporary society in light of developments in information technology.
  • Business Decision Areas: Marketing and Operations (40 hours) : This unit is designed to enable students to analyse the decisions which businesses must take about their marketing and operational activities in order to ensure that they meet their objectives.
  • Business Decision Areas: Finance and Human Resource Management (40 hours) : This unit is designed to enable students to analyse the decisions which businesses must take about their financial and human resource activities in order to ensure that they meet their objectives.

Homework

Formal homework will issued weekly, however students will be expected to complete classroom exercises at home as and when required.

Next Steps

The Course or its Units may provide progression to:

  • Higher Business Management
  • Further education
  • Training or a range of employment eg insurance clerk, banking, etc

Administration Higher

Recommended Entry

Administration at Standard Grade Credit level or Intermediate 2. Students who have a relevant computing qualification, or an interest in administration or information technology may also be admitted to this course of study.

Course Details

Students will have the opportunity to develop the crucial skills and knowledge that will allow them to access, understand and contribute to the dynamic and complex business and information environment. The course places an emphasis on the development of problem solving and decision-making skills and is appropriate for students seeking careers within the modern administrative environment.

There are two units in Higher Administration and 40 hours flexible time:

  • Administration Services (40 hours) : This unit is designed so that students should be able to apply skills and knowledge to situations requiring a high level of administrative services and solve problems in a structured way and make decisions in these situations.
  • Information Technology for Management (80 hours): This unit is designed so that students should be able to find, select, analyse, use and communicate information in a range of contexts. Students will extend their skills and expertise in the use of software packages; analyse the use of information technology in an administrative and a business context and assess the role of information in decision making.

Homework

Formal homework will issued weekly, however students will be expected to complete classroom exercises at home as and when required.

Next Steps

A successful award in Higher Administration could allow students to progress to Advanced Higher, National Certificate, HNC, HND, degree courses and employment opportunities such as administration assistant.

Administration Intermediate 2

Recommended Entry

Students would normally be expected to have attained Administration at Standard Grade General level or Intermediate 1. Students who have a relevant computing qualification, or an interest in administration or information technology will also be admitted to this course of study.

Course Details

This is a vocationally orientated course suitable for those students wishing to pursue a career in administration. It will enable students to perform functions and develop the competencies required to process, sort, check, store and output information within the modern organisational environment. The practical approach adopted makes the course suitable for individuals who wish to acquire administrative skills and a high level of skills required in the use of business software packages particularly word processing.

There are three 40-hour units plus 40 hours flexible time:

  • Administrative Services (40 hours): This unit contains the knowledge and understanding which underpins the administrative function.
  • Information Technology for Administrators (40 hours) : This unit concentrates on the use of information technology to solve business problems.
  • Presenting and Communicating Information (40 hours): This unit concentrates on the use of information and communications technology to present and communicate information.

Homework

Formal homework will issued weekly, however students will be expected to complete classroom exercises at home as and when required.

Next Steps

Higher Administration, National Certificate and a range of employment

eg clerical assistant.

Administration Intermediate 1

Recommended Entry

Students would normally be expected to have attained a basic competence or interest in administration or information technology

Course Details

This is a vocationally orientated course suitable for those students wishing to pursue a career in administration. It is suitable for individuals who wish to acquire basic administrative skills. It takes a practical approach to the administrative tasks carried out in business and to the development of the basic skills required in the use of business software packages particularly word processing.

There are three 40-hour units plus 40 hours flexible time:

  • Administrative Services (40 hours): This unit contains the knowledge and understanding which underpins the administrative function.
  • Information Technology for Administrators (40 hours) : This unit concentrates on the use of information technology to solve business problems.
  • Presenting and Communicating Information (40 hours): This unit concentrates on the use of information and communications technology to present and communicate information.

Homework

Formal homework will issued weekly, however students will be expected to complete classroom exercises at home as and when required.

Next Steps

Intermediate 2 Administration, National Certificate and a range of employment

eg junior clerical posts.

PC Passport

PC Passport is a suite of IT user qualifications awarded by the Scottish Qualifications Authority. It is available at three levels

The Beginner course is designed for the absolute novice; the Intermediate Course is designed for the 'competent user'; and the Advanced Course is for 'expert' users. All three levels have simple structures.

These courses are highly vocational , focusing on industry standard software and skills. However, they're not directly related to a specific software manufacturer - instead they seek to teach transferable skills that can be used in a range of environments.

PC Passport is designed for anyone who wants to develop or improve their IT skills. Because it exists at three levels, most people will find an appropriate course. PC Passport is particularly suitable for the following individuals:

  • School pupils who want to gain vocational skills.
  • College students who want to acquire IT skills to compliment their main field of study.
  • Pre-university students who want a short IT Course prior to commencing university.
  • Unemployed people who want to improve their employability.
  • Employees who want to enhance their IT skills or gain certification for their existing skills.
  • Professionals as part of their continued professional development.
  • Retired people who want to learn to use computers and the internet.

There are no exams in PC Passport. Knowledge and understanding are assessed using objective questions; practical skills are assessed through observation and/or practical exercises.

The Beginner Course is ideal for the absolute novice. No prior experience is required for this level and the component Units are very straightforward. The Intermediate course is designed for the 'competent user' and focuses on the key skills required in the modern workplace. The Advanced course is designed for IT experts - those individuals who co-workers come to for help.

Enterprise

Enterprise in education will equip children and young people with the skills and values to contribute meaningfully to the Scottish economy and society and will prepare them for the role of global citizens of the twenty-first century. It can be broadly defined as:

  • opportunities to think and act in enterprising ways across the curriculum
  • an emphasis on core skills and the ability to transfer these to different contexts
  • learning and teaching which encourages positive attitudes and develops skills such as problem solving, decision making, creativity and risk evaluating
  • entrepreneurial experience
  • career education which promotes knowledge and understanding of the world of work and includes a focus on work experience
  • development of a culture of lifelong learning

The Business Education programme is timetabled along with the CSLA course. This means that pupils undertaking the CSLA course of study will work with members of the Business Education department to complete an enterprise unit.

The department currently delivers both the Enterprise Activity (Access 3) and Enterprise Activity (Intermediate 1) NQ units.

CAREER PATHS

For useful information about the types of careers and Further Education that a course in Administration can lead to, click on the following links:

 

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