The Business and ICT Department engenders and fosters students’ love of learning; not only in the learning opportunities experienced on the course, but in the wider world.  Our curriculum is stimulating, intellectually challenging and relevant, equipping students with the necessary knowledge and skills they need to succeed in their academic careers and beyond. Our aim is to develop our students so that they grow as young adults who will enter the world of work with an attitude of care for the individuals they encounter and the world in which we live.

Students of all abilities and backgrounds experience a supportive and caring learning environment in which to grow and develop their skills, knowledge and understanding of the Business and ICT worlds, with a view to using this subject for the common good, now and in the future.

Our students develop a solid understanding of business law and how business practices must be carried out in a legal and ethical manner, which supports fairness and justice for all.  Fitting with the distinct mission of the Catholic school and the Catholic faith, in which all individuals, created in the image and likeness of God, have a right to human dignity and value, without persecution.

The department seeks to establish a learning environment where all students are safe, confident and ambitious for their success, through the teacher’s positive high expectations, the stretch and challenge provided, and the support given.  Our curriculum embeds cross-curricular links with life skills that are transferable and complement other areas of learning and the individual’s current and future life.

Students are equipped with essential skills in research, analysis and evaluation whilst investigating economic and social factors which impact and shape our lives and our world.  They are supported to be able to construct reasoned arguments and judgements based on real life business scenarios and current world issues.

Through teachers’ knowledge and enthusiasm, students develop their awareness of Business and ICT, not only as subjects they are studying, but as increasingly relevant, essential and ever-changing aspects of their lives. Students enjoy their learning experience and are supported to achieve their full potential, ready for their next steps.

Curriculum Summary -Computer Science & ICT

Key Stage 3

Programme of Study

Students study ICT and Computer Science throughout Year 7 and 8. ICT equips students with the essential computer skills that they need for everyday life. Computer Science gives learners a real, in-depth understanding of how computer technology works. It is a subject that will provide excellent preparation for higher study and employment, develop critical thinking, analysis and problem-solving skills.

During Year 7, students have one lesson of ICT per fortnight in which to build on basic ICT skills such as the Office Suite and then progress to learning computer programming using Code Academy and Scratch.

In Year 8, students continue to have one lesson per fortnight, during which time they cover a wide range of topics which include E-safety, computer networks, programming languages (Scratch and Python) and binary. In Year 8, students also get the opportunity to programme their own mini-computer known as a Micro Bit.

Assessment

Assessment is carried out in the following formats:

· Self-assessment

· Peer assessment

· Teacher assessment

Key Stage 4

GCSE Computer Science

Awarding Body and Paper: OCR GCSE (9-1) Computer Science

Computer Science gives learners a real, in-depth understanding of how computer technology works. It is a subject that will provide excellent preparation for higher study and employment, develop critical thinking, analysis and problem-solving skills.

Programme of Study

Computer Science will:

• Develop students’ understanding of current and emerging technologies

• Help students acquire and apply their knowledge, some technical skills and an understanding of the use of algorithms in computer programmes to solve problems using programming

• Allow students to use their knowledge and understanding of computer technology to become independent and discerning users of IT.  Further, it will enable them to make informed decisions about the use, and implications of, different technologies

• Help students acquire and apply creative and technical skills, knowledge and understanding of IT in a range of contexts

• Help students to develop computer programmes to solve problems

• Allow students to evaluate the effectiveness of computer programmes/solutions and the impact of, and issues related to, the use of computer technology in society.

Learning/Teaching Approach

Students will cover a variety of topics such as:

• CPU
• Storage systems
• Binary
• Hexadecimal
• Networks
• Encryption
• IP and MAC addressing
• Cyber security
• Algorithms
• Programming languages

Assessment

There are two written papers that will both be sat at the end of Year 11.

The assessment structure is shown below:

Paper 1 (Computer systems)	Paper 2 (Computational thinking, algorithms and programming)
Systems Architecture	Algorithms
Memory	Programming techniques
Storage	Producing robust programs
Wired and wireless networks	Computational logic
Network topologies, protocols and layers	Translators and facilities of languages
System security	Data representation
System software
Ethical, legal, cultural and environmental concerns

Exam structure

Written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes worth 80 marks

In addition to the above examination papers, a project will also be completed.

Programming project Programming techniques Analysis Design Development Testing and evaluation and conclusions

Time   20 timetabled hours

Formal requirement This is a formal requirement of the course and will be completed independently under supervised exam conditions in your timetabled lessons.

What it leads to

Computing will help prepare students for a variety of careers including: IT manager, software developer (programming), system test technician, technical support engineer, forensic technologist, web application designer and developer. 

Curriculum Summary-Business

Key Stage 5

BTEC Business

BTEC Business has been running at BUCHS since 2016 and continues to attract high numbers year-on-year. 

Students have consistently achieved high results and all students go on to either university, apprenticeships or employment.

Awarding Body and Paper: Edexcel National Diploma in Business

Programme of Study/Assessment

• Equivalent in size to 2 A Levels
• 8 units of which 6 are mandatory and 2 are chosen by the teachers
• 1 external exam
• 2 units are controlled assessment
• Internal assessment (63%)
• External assessment (47%)

Unit guide