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St Margaret Ward
Catholic Academy
St Margaret Ward
Catholic Academy
First and foremost, we aim to guide all of our students to understand how best to apply their ICT skills safely and ethically and to behave responsibly when making any use of information and communications technology. This will be delivered referencing the 3 strands of Computing, Digital Literacy and Information Technology.
Whilst ensuring coverage of the Computing National Curriculum in Years 7,8 and 9 we also offer a Computing and Vocational ICT route as part of Key Stage 4 options process.
Not all students will naturally develop into competent users of technology. Therefore, an awareness of the underlying technical processes involved is often lacking. It is our aim to address this.
Through teaching both IT and Computer Science we can provide our students with distinct opportunities for their futures. Both courses of at KS4 weave the strand of digital literacy and its importance in our students lives.
Computer Science teaches students design, logical reasoning and problem solving – all valuable well beyond the Computer Science classroom. Computer Scientists develop an understanding of how computers are designed and built. They also learn about programming and project development. Computer Scientists enjoy a wide range of career options since all industry sectors today involve computing (e.g., the arts, film, finance, health care, journalism, manufacturing, music, security).
DIT aims to develop savvy users of technology who have transferable skills that will support them in all curriculum areas. Digital skills span all industries and almost all jobs in the UK today require employees to have an excellent level of digital literacy. The vast majority of work places now expect digital skills and these are becoming increasingly as important as English and Maths. Having both technical skills and business understanding is a key to success. Our students will develop important technical skills in data interpretation, data presentation and data protection. They will also cover aspects of User Interface (UI) design and development and learn how to develop a project plan for their own UI designs.
Being able to access technology and critically evaluate the information on the world wide web is a key skill that will contribute to our students’ future economic wellbeing.
As subjects, we seek every opportunity to raise our students’ awareness of the world around them, how technology has impacted on their lives and where it could lead. We also look at careers in technology and the key figures behind the developments that they have never lived without.
Creating critical thinkers with a sound understanding of the principles of Business we aim to develop savvy consumers and entrepreneurs of the future.
Awareness of the world is a key focus within the Business Studies curriculum. We aim to give our students an understanding of how to not only work within business but to also understand how the way in which businesses work affects their financial well-being. By teaching our students business, we aim to provide them with the knowledge and skills to become leaders in their chosen field of work or to be able to set up a business of their own. Students need to understand key principles such as marketing, ownerships and finance (both personal and business). By knowing how a business interacts with their customers, our students can successfully engage with others in many different situations.
Our lessons are designed for students who want an introduction to business and enterprise that includes a vocational and hands-on element. It has been developed to enthuse and inspire students about a career in business and enterprise. The study of Business Studies will appeal to students who wish to either set up their own business, move into employment or progress into further study.
Year 12 and 13 Business Studies has multiple units being taught at the same time due to the split in teachers and the nature of the course. In Year 12 all must complete Units 1, 2, 3 and 4 if doing the Dip Level plus Units 8 and 27 as the preferred optional units. In Year 13 all Dip students must complete Units 5 and 6. Unit 7 must be completed for those wishing to do the Extended Dip and they must choose four other optional units. To ensure students are able to tailor their course to meet future career or further study goals, the four optional units are totally student driven and can vary from Human Resources to Accounts or Digital Marketing (because of this, multiple units will be delivered in the same lesson making it difficult to put into terms). For the overview, units are shown as one at a time but they will overlap.
At all levels of Business Studies, every opportunity is taken to bring into lessons current affairs so that students can further their understanding that Business Studies is a live subject and that everything that happens can affect not just the companies, but the students as consumers.
Students are encouraged to be able to identify the differences between ethical behaviour and behaviours of companies who simply act within the law.
Please click on the following link to view the Curriculum policy for ICT, Business and Computer Science
