Business & Computing

Curriculum Intent

Business:
Business Studies provides transferable skills allowing students a smooth transition from an educational environment to a work environment, by providing an insight to a multitude of business sectors and departments. We aim to develop a range of life skills including: enhancing teamworking, problem solving, independent learning and communication skills whilst instilling confidence in our students to make themselves stand out in a competitive working environment. Business Studies will nurture the creative side of students when developing marketing and promotional campaigns, planning and pitching a business idea.

Computing:
A high-quality computing education equips pupils to use computational thinking and creativity to understand and change the world. Computing has deep links with mathematics, science and design and technology, and provides insights into both natural and artificial systems. The core of computing is computer science, in which pupils are taught the principles of information and computation, how digital systems work and how to put this knowledge to use through programming. Building on this knowledge and understanding, pupils are equipped to use information technology to create programs, systems and a range of content. Computing also ensures that pupils become digitally literate – able to use, and express themselves and develop their ideas through, information and communication technology – at a level suitable for the future workplace and as active participants in a digital world.

Strengths of the Department

The department has developed links in the local Business community and makes use of these links to provide opportunities to take pupils learning beyond the classroom. This year pupils in year 7 had the opportunity to work with Lloyds Bank on a digital innovation day. Some of our year 8’s attended an event with JP Morgan and GCHQ to learn about encryption and cryptography. Some year 9 pupils attended a Barclays tech awareness event at Barclays World Technology Centre.

The delivery of the ES curriculum also help students to make informed choices about the KS4 options they can take within our department which are:

  • Computer Science
  • Enterprise and Marketing
  • Creative i-media

These have proven very popular with our students, making us one of the largest option subjects within the school.

Exam Board: OCR

KS3 Business and Computing Curriculum

Year 7Year 8Year 9
Autumn 1
Autumn 2
Spring 1
Spring 2
Summer 1
Summer 2
Basic Computing
Email, OneDrive, DTP
e-Safety They Made it Happen Hardware & Software Animation Ice Cream Van
Introduction to modelling
Autumn 1
Autumn 2
Spring 1
Spring 2
Summer 1
Summer 2
Media Influences Computer Control Programming with Scratch Cyber Security Apps for Good Networks
Autumn 1
Autumn 2
Spring 1
Spring 2
Summer 1
Summer 2
Introduction to Business Marketing Mix Programming a Computer (Python) Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Web Design
The Next Big Thing (Spreadsheets and Modelling)

 

Digital LiteracyComputational ThinkingBusiness Studies

Digital Literacy

This is the main focus throughout year 7, developing the IT literacy skills in terms of general office applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, Publisher and Powerpoint. This is to enable pupils to develop skills that can be applied in a range of contexts to support their learning across the curriculum. They will need to consider audience and purpose when creating digital content.

A growing focus of the curriculum delivery is preparing students to consider their safety when using technology, and will be introduced to e-safety, in terms of the risks and benefits of making use of digital tools.

Computational Thinking

In this pupils learn key concepts in Computer Science. In year 8 they are introduced to algorithmic thinking, decomposition, computational mathematics and design methodologies. This will be covered through a range of topics from Media Influences, looking how the media influences Society and discussing a range of topics from Body Image to mental health. We will also introduce computational mathematics and how images are stored on computers. Flowcharts will then be used to introduce algorithmic thinking, decomposition and design methodologies.

These themes are then continued in a practical programming unit using scratch as an object orientated programming language. This is then developed further in year 9 through the teaching of a script based programming unit in python. Pupils will bring together their learning to create a project of their own in python.

Business Studies

During year 7, pupils will be introduced to business concepts such as; trade, politics and law. These themes will continue throughout the year 8 curriculum until they will be taught a discreet Business unit in year 9. In year 9 pupils will develop an understanding of the different forms of ownership, the legal status of different business types and why different businesses exist. They will then learn about marketing and how business makes use of promotions.

As the majority of students will work for, or run their own businesses once leaving education, the aim is to provide an insight into the world of business and the factors that influence the success or failure of a business.

What’s happening at Trinity High.

Read the latest news from our school.

Feb 7, 2025

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe

Wednesday 12th, Thursday, 13th and Friday 14th February – doors open 6:30pm, show starts at 7.00pm. Tickets available now on ParentPay – £6.50 per ticket   Head of Drama, Mr […]

Feb 7, 2025

Holocaust Memorial Assemblies

Last week, Mr Slater led a school-wide assembly to honour the six million Jews who were murdered during the Holocaust. The assembly provided an opportunity to reflect on how such […]

Feb 7, 2025

Debate Mate

Teacher of English, Ms Brierley-Rimmer, tells us more: “Well done to Trinity’s 3 Debate Mate teams, who took part in the first round of the Urban Debate League on Tuesday […]

Feb 7, 2025

STEM Roadshow

Head of Engineering, Mr Barnes, tells us all about the STEM roadshow event: “The school recently hosted a STEM Roadshow Performance by BAE Systems, in partnership with The Royal Navy […]