Our department encompasses several different subject areas: Business, Economics, Leisure & Tourism, Travel & Tourism and Health & Social Care.

GCSE Business Studies follows a three module pattern which includes an exciting Controlled Assignment, an opportunity to develop research skills and independent learning.  The other subjects in our GCSE suite adopt a more applied approach and here the balance favours coursework.  At GCSE, entry to external examinations begins in Year 10.  The applied subjects are Double awards worth two GCSE’s.

Business Studies students have the opportunity to test their knowledge with a visit to the Moselle region of Germany.  This EU dimension is carried out in conjunction with the Modern Languages department.  Our business exercises can be executed in English, German, French or Spanish.

At ‘A’ Level, Economics is taught on the basis of no initial prior knowledge by students.  Two external examinations are taken at the end of each year, one microeconomic and one covering macroeconomics.  The remaining subjects at ‘A’ Level follow an applied approach.  This is appreciated by our students who are able, through using their own initiative and using primary and secondary research, to devise original work, submitted as portfolios to the exam board.  The courses comprise three modules or units, one of which is an external written examination.

Our applied subjects are designed to be as experiental as possible.  Integral to these courses is the appreciation that external providers will provide a vital input which will help motivate our students and enable them to access the highest grades available.  In short, we issue the challenges and the students respond; it’s a partnership.  At sixth form level Business students do key industrial placements in preparation for their EU module while those studying Travel & Tourism travel on a residential visit to Germany or Spain to complete their studies.  At GCSE our visits tend to be within 50 kilometre radius lasting no more than a day.

Most of our lessons are taught in our suite of rooms which allow access to computers and interactive whiteboards.  Students have the opportunity to study using the more traditional approach or using a more applied approach.  Both strategies offer enormous value to students.  Students in post-16 normally apply a mix of these styles to great success.

The courses we offer have had huge success and this is entirely due to the hard work carried out by staff who enjoy what they do and their excellent working relationship with highly motivated students who rise to the challenge in order to achieve.  As I wrote above, it’s a partnership.  And one which we believe works.