Curriculum-Overview-Enterprise-and-Business.pdf

We are at the beginning of an exciting journey, implementing the newly revised BTEC Tech Award for Enterprise (2022).

In KS3, students are given the opportunity to develop business skills such as writing a business plan and setting up a micro enterprise with peers as part of the Tycoon club, run once a week with the Lead Business Teacher.

In years 10 and 11, students’ study for the BTEC Tech Award Enterprise qualification which consists of the following 3 components*:

Component 1: Exploring Enterprises; students develop understanding of different features of SMEs, their aims as an enterprise, and the skills and characteristics that make entrepreneurs successful. Students also develop knowledge of primary and secondary research methods, and how to conduct PEST and SWOT analysis.
 

Component 2: Planning and Presenting a Micro-Enterprise Idea; students use the knowledge gained from Component 1 and undertake some further research to generate ideas to plan for a micro-enterprise. Students will produce and deliver a presentation of a chosen idea using their knowledge of business, and demonstrating entrepreneurial characteristics, qualities, and skills.
 

Component 3: Marketing and Finance for Enterprise; students will consider how small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) use marketing and finance. From looking at the different elements of the marketing mix in order to be able to identify target markets, make marketing decisions and put forward marketing suggestions for enterprises to use to increase their success in the future to analysing financial information in context, complete and use financial documents and financial statements. Students will consider the importance of financial planning and forecasting for an enterprise, make financial decisions and recommend suggestions for improvements.

In years 12 and 13, students study the BTEC National Business qualification which consists of a minimum of 4 units that builds and develops knowledge gained at KS4, as follows:

Unit 1: Exploring Business

Unit 2: Developing a Marketing Campaign
Unit 3: Personal and Business Finance

Unit 8: Recruitment and Selection Process

Further information on the units for KS5 study can be found here - https://qualifications.pearson.com/content/dam/pdf/BTEC-Nationals/Business/2016/specification-and-sample-assessments/btecnationals-bus-excert-spec.pdf. From September 2023, we are also offering A-Level Business, providing our students with greater choice that is relevant to their individual needs and future planning.

We continually seek novel and fun ways in which we can bring the world into the classroom and welcome any externally interested party to contact our Lead Teacher of Business.

* Information taken from the qualification specification found here - https://qualifications.pearson.com/content/dam/pdf/btec-tec-awards/enterprise/2022/specification-and-sample-assessments/60370634-btec-tech-award-enterprise-2022-spec.pdf

As part of the newly revised BTEC Enterprise (2022), students at KS4 are formally assessed as follows:

Component 1: The assignment will take approximately 6 hours of monitored preparation and 5 supervised hours to complete the externally set task. The grade achieved in this component is equal to 30% of the final grade.

Component 2: The assignment will take approximately 6 hours of monitored preparation and 7 supervised hours to complete the externally set task. The grade achieved in this component is equal to 30% of the final grade.

Component 3: Students will be provided with a case study of a small to medium-sized enterprise (SME), and a number of questions to answer. An exam worth 60 marks will be completed under supervised conditions. The supervised assessment period is 2 hours. The grade achieved in this component is equal to 40% of the final grade.

As components 1 and 2 are assessed under formal conditions, students are provided with the opportunity to practice vital assessment skills through mini-mock assessments at the end of each Learning Outcome, for example, Learning Outcome A is informally assessed prior to moving to Learning Outcome B allowing students an opportunity to receive feedback on and develop vital skills that will provide success in the formally assessed assignment.

Students at KS5 studying for the BTEC National in Business are formally assessed as follows:

Unit 1: 100% coursework.

Unit 2: Exam.
Unit 3: Exam.

Unit 8: 100% coursework.

Tracking of mock grades and final outcome of each component or unit is provided on Pupil Progress, and students receive regular in-class feedback as well as half-termly written feedback via Teams.

Students not making the expected progress are first dealt with via communication with home; this often has a positive impact on engagement in the classroom and work output. In addition, attendance is regularly monitored by the class teacher, and discussions with the student are held to aid in addressing any obstacles before escalation takes place.

Six-week blocks of intervention sessions also target Year 11 students at risk of not achieving their potential: delivered once a week, this enables students to practise a discrete skill and receive feedback as part of that session.

Enterprise-Learning-Journey.pptx