S3 Business and IT:
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WORK COVERED SO FAR:

ENTREPRENEURS

This topic focused on exploring teams and our own strengths and weaknesses, skills and qualities before applying this knowledge to current entrepreneurs. The pupils are able to define the term entrepreneur, give reasons for starting a business and research a current entrepreneur.

SECTORS OF ECONOMY – PRIVATE AND THIRD SECTORS

This topic focused on describing how different businesses and not for profit organisations help to satisfy needs and wants. Pupils identified profit and non-profitmaking organisations/enterprises. Pupils were able to exemplify the purposes and features of different sector organisations: private and third sector.

ETHICS

This topic focused on identifying at least two ethical issues related to business practices, for example, Fairtrade, Credit Unions, food banks, zero hours contracts, recycling and packaging. Pupils explored the benefits and the costs of being ethical to a business.

MARKETING MIX

This topic explored the marketing mix. Pupils were introduced to the different methods and types of promotion, the importance of pricing and the varying methods and the importance of branding. Pupils compared branded products with own branded products to enhance understanding.

Pupils have been assessed at the end of June and October to summarise learning of topics covered in the summer term and term 1.

S3 CHRISTMAS FAIR

Pupils have been taking on a variety of roles within the planning, coordinating, and organising of the Christmas Fair.  Tasks include creating advertising materials, planning layout of area for event, contacting stall holders and maintaining communication throughout the process.  Pupils have had created and have created decorations, to ensure a festive feel for the evening.  Liaison with janitors, staff and other school staff has all been conducted by the S3 Business Pupils. Pupils have ensured the details of stall holders and the event are kept secure and worked safely in the classroom environment. 

This Fair will take place on Thursday 30th November 2023 and we hope you can come along and see your young person’s great efforts.

The majority of work covered in term 1 for S3 Business is based around CfE Level 4 outcomes.

Working Level and Working Grade descriptions for S3 Business & Accounts:

Fourth +: The student is regularly working beyond CfE Level 4.

Fourth Level A: Making excellent progress at CfE Level 4, performing well against all the outcomes covered. The student can apply the key knowledge and skills of business management and exhibits good competency levels and confidence using ICT and understanding the fundamentals of the topic. Produces an excellent standard of work and when topics allow for extension into further CfE Level 4 outcomes, the student copes very well with the increased challenge.

Fourth Level B: Making good progress at CfE Level 4, performing well against most of the outcomes covered. The student copes well with the application of knowledge and understanding of the topic and exhibits good competency and confidence in using their ICT skills. The student applies their knowledge and IT skills to enhance their work. Produces a good standard of work and when topics allow for extension into further CfE Level 4 outcomes, the student copes well with the increased challenge.

Fourth Level C: Making reasonable progress at CfE Level 4, performing well against many of the outcomes covered while finding others more challenging. Sometimes needs the basic business fundamental concepts broken down into more manageable chunks and a little extra support to enable the student to gain more confidence to produce a higher standard of presentation.

Fourth Level D: Making some progress at this CfE Level 4, performing well against a few of the outcomes covered while finding the majority challenging. Often needs the business concepts to be broken down into more manageable chunks or further consolidation of the level. Often needs to revisit previously visited content to build more solid foundations and confidence before moving forward with developing their business acumen and IT skills further.

Third Level A-D:  Finds the work very challenging while continuing to be exposed to CfE Level 3 content in class. The student requires most tasks to be broken down into smaller, simplified versions to make progress.  The student needs support to develop the literacy and ICT skills required and build confidence in responding to questioning using IT. Grading of A-D reflects where a pupil sits within this group. 

At this stage in the Business & IT curriculum, pupils on a pathway towards achieving SCQF Level 5 in S4 will be working at Fourth C or above. 

Further information, including an overview for all subject areas can be found here.