Business Education - Course Choice S3/S4
Why study Business Education?
Whatever you do in your professional life, the chances are that it will involve some aspect of ‘business’.
Business Education courses give pupils a broad overview of how the business world operates and provide pupils with a firm educational foundation which can be applied in any sector or industry/future career plan.
The Business Education curriculum offers pupils the opportunity to study:
SG Administration
SG Business Management
Enterprise Activity (Access 3 and Intermediate 1)
Future Prospects
The SG Administration course of study can lead to progression at Intermediate 1, 2 and Higher Level Administration. Pupils can use skills, knowledge and qualification gained in a number of career paths.
The SG Business Management course of study can lead to progression at Intermediate 2, Higher and Advanced Higher Level. Pupils can use skills, knowledge and qualification gained in a number of career paths.
Pupil Quotes
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Administration has given me the skills I require to use equipment correctly and the knowledge to know what makes a good organisation. Every organisation nowadays is dominated by electronic software and Admin gives us the skills we need to be able to use that software efficiently. We learn about health and safety, mail, filing, different types of jobs and what each job entails. The list goes on! All in all, I believe Admin is a great subject to take which you will enjoy and not regret taking. (Jordan McRae, S4)
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Business Management has helped me gain a deeper understanding of how businesses are developed, structured and organised. It has helped developed my confidence and social skills and has opened many more career opportunities than I imagined it could. (Rebecca Watson, S4)
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Standard Grade Administration
The Standard Grade Administration course is a practical based course on how Information Technology (not just about computers) can be used in businesses. Pupils taking this course will gain essential ICT skills that can be very useful in any career path they choose to follow. Whilst working in a simulated workplace:
- Pupils will examine the work environment, consider office layout, ergonomic factors and health and safety legislation.
- Evaluate working practices available to employees within different types of business organisations.
- They will explore and use data handling software which allows them to search, sort, calculate, interpret, retrieve or display information.
- They will select and use appropriate software and equipment to carry out a range of tasks which support administrative, business, management and entrepreneurial activities.
- They will select and use a range of media to present and communicate business information.
- They will select and use specialist equipment and appropriate software to develop administrative and management skills.
The theory element of the course covers what is needed to run a successful business using an office context. Areas covered include: organisation structure, reprographics, workplace health and safety, reception, ergonomics, methods of communication, business information and travel.
This course is no longer just for people who want to work in an office, this is a course for anyone who wants to gain a greater understanding of how businesses work, how ICT can help whilst developing transferable ICT skills in pupils.
Pupil Quotes
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Personally, in my opinion, Admin is really useful. Of course it provides you with the skills that will help you at school and later on in life and will help you with whatever career you choose to take on. Also if you are into office work: spreadsheets, word, databases etc then Admin is a great choice for you. However there are parts of the course that can bore you to death but you will have that in all subjects and learning it will benefit you in the end. Otherwise, I am glad I chose Admin as one of my choices. (Natalie Parsons, S4)
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Standard Grade Business Management
The Standard Grade Business Management course allows pupils to understand the important of business in society today. The course will support pupils in developing both skills and knowledge that will be useful for further study or for when they move into the workforce/set up in business on their own. Whilst undertaking this course of study pupils will:
- Research the organisation of a business, discuss the role of departments and personnel, evaluating how they contribute to the success or failure of the business. Pupils will focus on the work of the Marketing, Finance, Operations and Human Resource Department.
- Participate in an enterprise activity, explore ethical issues relating to business practice and gain an understanding of how businesses help to satisfy needs.
- Research the purposes and features of private, public and voluntary sector organisations to contribute to a discussion on their relationships with stakeholders.
- Examine how political, economic, social and technical factors can influence individuals, businesses or communities.
- Evaluate working practices available to employees within different types of business organisations.
- Understand the necessity for budgeting and determine ways to manage finance, considering possible investment opportunities, savings, risks or borrowing needs and will evaluate the suitability of finance options available for setting up and supporting different types of businesses.
- Identify internal and external factors influencing planning and decision making and can assess how these decisions contribute to the success or failure of businesses.
The course also allows pupils to use ICT. In particular the use of the Internet as a means of research on areas covered in the course and the use of Excel when working through the Finance Unit.
It is hoped that visits to business organisations will be possible so that pupils can see the theory covered happening in real life.
Pupil Quotes
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Business Management is a fantastic subject to take. It is a subject which improves not only your knowledge of business and society but also your social skills and ability to interact and discuss with other pupils. It involves many creative and fun tasks, done usually in pairs or small groups and you always have the chance to work with those in your class you wouldn't usually work with, giving you a whole range of different experiences. The class always has a positive, fun and uplifting atmosphere to work in and no class is ever the same as Mrs Sandilands always has a different story to tell! With the right attitude, anyone can be successful in this subject. Adrienne Jennings (S4, Session 2009/10)
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Business management is definitely a good choice of subject to take. It widens your knowledge about the world of business while having fun at the same time during creative and group-work tasks. You always have a chance to make your own statement and due to the group/pairing tasks it allows you to experience co-operating with different students which you may not normally talk to. Catchy stories and tunes from Mrs Sandilands, make this subject one which you don't forget that easily. Its a great subject to take due to the different experiences which you get e.g. the polish pen-pal exchange, which was a great way in which to learn about other peoples cultures as well as meeting new people, but most of all it was very interesting due to the creative group tasks in which we had to perform. Alex Melville (S4, Session 2009/10)
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Enterprise Activity
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:
- 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
- opportunities to think and act in enterprising ways across the curriculum
The Business Education programme is timetabled along with the 4th year section of the JSLA course. This means that pupils undertaking the JSLA course of study will work with members of the Business Education department in their 4th year of schooling to complete an enterprise unit.
The department currently delivers both the Enterprise Activity (Access 3) and Enterprise Activity (Intermediate 1) NQ units.
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