Business Education

Business Education has two different names depending upon the level studied: National 3/4 Business and National 5 Business Management.

At National 3 /4 level Business includes two units: Business in Action and Influences on Business. The course gives an overview of how small businesses operate and how they meet customer needs. It also looks at who the stakeholders are in small businesses and how businesses can be influenced internally and externally. This is followed by an opportunity to create a business proposal for a small business.

At National 5 level, Business Management explores different areas of management within a business.  There are 5 sections: Understanding Business, Management of Marketing, Management of Operations, Management of People and Management of Finance.

At Higher level, Business Management examines the different business areas in more depth, allowing pupils to analyse the impact that internal and external environments have on an organisation’s activity. Pupils will also have the opportunity to learn about the relevant procedures used by organisations to improve competitiveness and customer satisfaction  and/or maintain quality. They will also learn about the relevant policies and laws organisations follow when dealing with staff, including retention, training, leadership and motivation. 

Pupils will develop the skills needed to succeed in business or start their own. There are many transferable skills developed, such as communication skills, problem-solving skills, IT skills, teamwork, and innovation.

Criminology 

Criminology is a National Progression Award (NPA), which means there is no exam at the end of the year; instead, pupils are assessed throughout the year by way of open- and closed-book ongoing assessments. Criminology is the scientific study of crime, including its causes, responses by the criminal justice system, and methods of prevention. This is an exciting course which focuses on topics such as forensics and reasons why people commit criminal acts. Studying Criminology helps pupils to develop valuable skills which can be used in many aspects of life, such as critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, teamwork, decision-making, and the ability to analyse evidence.

In this NPA course, we study:

Crime in the community - In this unit, we will learn about the role of the media in reporting crime, different categories of crime and how crime is being addressed in the community through policing and the criminal justice system.

Crime Scenes -  In this unit, we will develop an understanding of the different types of physical evidence available at a crime scene, the importance of preserving evidence, and how this evidence is utilised. You will also develop an understanding of psychological evidence available at a crime scene and how that information can be used to understand the scene.

The History and Development of Criminology - In this unit, we examine the study of Criminology from the first theorists who studied the way criminals look, through a variety of schools of thought to present day theories including psychological and sociological theories.

Geography 

Geography is fast becoming one of the most important subjects to study in a world affected by climate change, increasing natural disasters such as floods, cyclones, earthquakes and volcanoes, and population increase. By studying geography, you will be able to understand everything that you see around you, from what is going on in the news to how the landscape is formed. It is a subject that looks at both the physical and human side of the world, allowing you to develop the knowledge and skills needed to take on any further education course or job!

In the National 3/4/5 course, we study:

Physical Environments:

• Glaciated Landscapes

• Coastal Landscapes

• Land Use in a Glaciated Landscape

• Weather

Human Environments:

• Population and Development

• Urban areas

• Rural areas

Global Issues:

• Climate Change

• Health

There is also an assignment, giving you the opportunity to carry out your own fieldwork and write up a report.

In Higher Geography we study:

Physical Environments:

• Lithosphere

• Biosphere

• Atmosphere

• Hydrosphere

Human Environments:

• Population 

• Urban areas

• Rural areas

Global Issues:

• Development and Health

• Global Climate Change

There is also an assignment, giving you the opportunity to carry out your own fieldwork and write up a report.

History

History is one of the most important subjects to study in an ever changing world. By studying the changes of the past - social, economic, and the conflicts - you will have a greater understanding of how the world is the way that it is, and what to look out for when understanding what is happening today. History looks at more than just what has happened, but why it has happened. By studying the peoples of the past, you will have the knowledge and skills necessary to progress in higher education or in the world of work.

In the Nationals course, we study:

Scottish Section - The Era of the Great War:

• Scots on the Western Front

• Domestic impact of war: society and culture

• Domestic impact of war: industry and economy

• Domestic impact of war: politics

British Section - The Atlantic Slave Trade:

• The Triangular Trade 

• Britain and the Caribbean 

• The captives’ experience and enslaved Africans’ attempts to gain their freedom 

• The Abolitionist campaigns

European and World Section - Hitler and Nazi Germany, 1919-1939:

• Weimar Germany, 1919–1933 

• Nazi rise to power 

• Nazi control of Germany 

• Nazi social and economic policies 

There is also an assignment, giving you the opportunity to carry out your own research and write a short essay on the subject.

In the Higher History course, we study:

Scottish Section - Migration and Empire:

• The migration of Scots

• The experience of immigrants in Scotland

• The impact of Scots migrants on the empire

• The effect of migration and empire on Scotland, to 1939

• 
  

British Section - Britain, 1851-1951:

• An evaluation of the reasons why some women were given the vote in 1918

• An evaluation of the reasons why the Liberals introduced social welfare reforms, 1906–14

• An assessment of the effectiveness of the Liberal social welfare reforms

• An assessment of the effectiveness of the Labour reforms, 1945–51

European and World Section - USA, 1918–1968:

• An evaluation of the reasons for changing attitudes towards immigration in the 1920s

• An evaluation of the obstacles to the achievement of civil rights for black people, up to 1941

• An evaluation of the reasons for the economic crisis of 1929–33

• An assessment of the effectiveness of the Civil Rights movement in meeting the needs of black Americans, up to 1968

There is also an assignment, giving you the opportunity to carry out your own research and write a short essay on the subject.

Modern Studies

Modern Studies is an enriching and challenging course that will develop the skills necessary to analyse and evaluate information, reach strong and supported judgments, and present persuasive and mature arguments. Modern Studies develops students' skills to prepare them for a successful transition into Higher courses, university, and employment routes. It develops strong, articulate, aware, and analytical individuals, who are highly sought after by employers.

The Nationals course consists of three sections: Democracy in Scotland or the UK, Social Issues (Crime and the Law) and International Issues (Terrorism). This is followed by an Assignment which allows students to research a contemporary issue of their choice.

The Higher course consists of the same three sections as the Nationals course but our International focus will be on the USA. The Assignment at Higher also allows students to focus their research on a contemporary issue of their choice.

The Advanced Higher course focuses specifically on the Crime and the Law topic. The dissertation allows students to choose any criminological topic to focus on.

Core Skills developed via Modern Studies: 

• Effective researching

• Report writing

• Analysis

• Drawing conclusions

• Evaluation 

• Decision making

• Convincing and persuading

• Supporting and opposing 

• Identifying and using reliable information 

• Constructive questioning

• Communication 

Travel and Tourism

Travel and Tourism is a Skills for Work Course. This means that it is assessed via a portfolio of work. There are no exams. 

The aim of the course is to help young people develop:

• Skills required in the travel and tourism industries

• An understanding of the workplace

• Skills and attitudes for employability

Students will learn through:

• Real and simulated workplace settings

• Role play activities

• Case study work

• Carrying out practical tasks and assignments

The topics covered are: 

Scotland

• Research tourist destinations and tourist attractions in Scotland

• Look at current travel and tourism trends in Scotland

• Look at the positive and negative impacts of travel and tourism in Scotland

• Create a travel itinerary for a holiday destination in Scotland

UK and World

• Research tourist destinations and tourist attractions around the world

• Look at current travel and tourism trends around the world

• Look at the positive and negative impacts of travel and tourism around the world

• Create a travel itinerary for a holiday destination worldwide

Employability

• Research job roles in the travel and tourism industry and possible career paths

• Research training and qualifications needed for different job roles

• Evaluate their own employability skills (strengths and weaknesses)

• Identify what skills, qualities, training, and experience are needed for the travel and tourism industry

Customer Service 

• Looking at the skills and qualities needed to provide positive customer service

• Looking at ways in which travel and tourism products are promoted

• Dealing with a customer enquiry in the role of a travel agent

• Dealing with a customer complaint effectively

Within the faculty, there are a variety of opportunities including Duke of Edinburgh, LGBT Charter Champions, and the Eco-Schools group. We are always keen to work with young people to offer them opportunities they desire; we are currently in conversation with seniors who have requested a debate club and will also run our usual Model UN preparation club in the lead-up to any Model United Nations competitions the pupils wish to enter, starting with North Berwick in November.

TBC

Laura Anderson - Curriculum leader, and Modern Studies, Geography, Criminology and Travel & Tourism teacher

Rebecca Wynne - Business teacher

Alix Macpherson - Geography and Travel & Tourism teacher

Stewart Carmichael - History teacher

James Kinnaird - History teacher

Cailey Doyle - Modern Studies, History and Criminology teacher

Kaitlin Burnett - Modern Studies teacher

Link here