Business & ICT
The Business and ICT department at Oak Wood School encourage students to be enterprising global citizens> Students are encouraged to use a number of strategies to solve problems that they may be presented with. Students are encouraged to become problem solver and develop their cross curricular skills. The Business and ICT department aim to foster student’s interest and adopt a real life approach by involving them with skills days at PWC; running the Heathrow Lego Mindstorm Challenge and trips to Bletchley Park.
Key Stage 3
KS3 builds the students ICT skills and aims to ensure that they are confident in using the software in everyday scenarios and introduction to computing and digital literacy
Year 7 focuses on developing students skills of using Powerpoint; creating and using databases, designing a website about e-safety and the history of Computers.
Year 8 students will be introduced to the basics of coding; Python and other computer languages. This is to help the students make an informed choice about KS4 options.
Key Stage 4
GCSE Business 9 – 1 (Edexcel)
The course compromises of 2 themes:
Theme 1: Investigating Small Business
Theme 2: Building a Business
Assessment is 100% external examination.
The aim of the course is to allow students to know and understand business concepts; terminology, objectives and the impact of businesses on individuals and the wider society. Students should develop and understanding of the business activity in local, national ad global contexts. Students will be able to apply their knowledge and understanding to different business contexts and understanding of how these contexts impact on business behaviour. Through studying this qualification students will apply knowledge and understanding to business decision making; develop problem solving and decision making skills relevant to business. Students will be encouraged to make justified decisions using both qualitative and quantitative data, including selection, interpretation, analysis and evaluation.
OCR Information Technologies
The course compromises of two components:
1. Understanding tools, techniques, methods and processes for technological solutions
2. Developing technological solutions
Assessment is through an external examination set by OCR and internal assessment and moderated by OCR.
Students will learn about the different technologies; why they should use them and how to make the best use of them, to gather, store, manipulate and present data. Students will learn about the tools and techniques for use in different digital hardware and software technologies. Students will be taught about data and information and the legal, ethical and moral considerations when using technology to gather, store ad present data and information and how to mitigate the risks of cyber attacks. Students will also learn to follow a project life cycle of initiation, planning, execution and evaluation to complete data management tasks.
GCSE Computer Science 9 – 1 (OCR)
The course compromises of two components:
1. Computer systems
2. Computational thinking, algorithms and programming
Assessment is 100% through external examination.
Students are encourage to understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of Computer Science including abstraction, decomposition, logic, algorithms and data representation. Students will be encouraged to analyse problems in computational terms through practical experience of solving such problems, including designing, writing and debugging programs. Students will be encouraged to think creatively; innovatively, analytically, logically and critically. Students will understand the impacts of digital technology to the individual and wider society and apply mathematical skills relevant to Computer Science.
Key Stage 5
GCE Business
The course compromises of 4 themes:
Theme 1: Marketing and people
Theme 2: Managing business activities
Theme 3: Business decisions and strategy
Theme 4: Global business
Assessment is 100% external examination.
The aims and objectives of the GCE in Business are to enable students to: develop an enthusiasm for studying business; gain a holistic understanding of business in a range of contexts, to develop a critical understanding of organisations and their ability to meet society’s needs and wants. Student will be encouraged to understand that business behaviour can be studied from a range of perspectives. Students should generate enterprising and creative approaches to business opportunities, problems and issues. Students should be aware of the ethical dilemmas and responsibilities faced by organisations and individuals. Students will acquire a range of relevant business and generic skills, including decision making, problem solving, the challenging of assumptions and critical analysis and apply numerical skills in a range of business contexts.