A

In Business and Economics we…

Aspire to be our best…

Through hard work from students and teachers

A student of Business or Economics works hard, but they are successful.  Business is the sort of subject that everyone will use in the world of work.

2012 Highlights

·         AS Business 86% A-C grade

·         A2 Business 75% A-C grade

·         AS Economics 85% A-C grade

·         A2 Economics 93% A-C grade

·         BTEC Level 3 100 PASS rate

·         BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma 100% Triple Distinction or Triple Distinction*  Equivalent to 3 A or 3 A* grades at A Level

·         BTEC Level 3 Diploma 100% Merits and Distinction grades

·         GCSE Business 53% A-C grade 100% Pass rate

·         BTEC Level 2 Diploma 100% FOUR A*-C equivalent

·         BTEC Level 2 Extended Certificate 100% TWO A*-C equivalent

The students who were the most successful in business were the ones who were prepared to put in the time and effort to work with their teachers to ACHIEVE.

“The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary.” Vidal Sassoon

C

In Business and Economics we…

Commit to our learning

Attendance to revision and intervention sessions

Within the business department we strive to encourage independence and commitment from our students. This is why we have worked hard at creating an environment where students are motivated to take responsibility for their learning. 

As a department we offer support for our students in a variety of ways, which enable them to show commitment to their learning. One of those ways is regular intervention and catch up sessions after school for students taking one of the BTEC courses that we offer. This enables students to continue their work outside of the classroom, whilst still getting support they need from staff. Students will often come to these sessions voluntarily as they strive to improve their work and aim for the best grade possible.

We also offer revision sessions after school and on various Saturdays throughout the year for students taking GCSE or A level courses. These sessions are also voluntary, however we have seen extremely encouraging levels of attendance, as students can see the benefit that these sessions have on their understanding of the course content and also exam technique, which they appreciate is essential for them to achieve their best.

As a department we will continue to offer these levels of support in the up coming academic year, as we have seen the positive commitment that our students are willing to take to achieve.”

·         Paige Dodd attended every revision session for AS Business in year 12. She exceeded her target grade of B/C and achieved an A grade.

·         Meso Izuchukwu often worked in the business department after school and through lunch times. She exceeded her target grade and achieved Distinction* on her BTEC.

“Study hard, for the well is deep, and our brains are shallow.” Richard Baxter

H

In Business and Economics we…

Hold high standards in everything we do

Through encouraging participation in activities that push students out of their comfort zone…

We always encourage student. Through enterprise in the department we encourage our students to have high standards, believe in themselves, produce excellent work, push themselves to achieve.

Speak Out Challenge

Over the past 5 years we have participated in the Jack Petchey Speak out Challenge which is a national event for public speaking.  The business department work with a wide range of students in year 10 each year and encourage them to get involved and take part. This competition allows students to develop their public speaking skills and makes them develop some self confidence in order to speak in front of large audiences. For the past 2 years JRCS has been incredibly lucky enough to be placed 1st, 2nd or 3rd at these Borough finals. The school as a whole has celebrated these students’ achievements at this event.

 Speak Easy Dragons extra curricular day

The Speak Easy Dragons visit the school in November each year and run a workshop for the whole of year 10. The students take part in a challenge that ends up with them pitching a business idea to the panel of judges. Throughout the day of planning activities there are ups and downs. Good ideas and bad ideas. The students learn the importance of professionalism and excellent communication skills in s business and fun environment.

“As long as you’re going to be thinking anyway, think big.” Donald Trump

I

In Business and Economics we…

Involve ourselves in our communities

We do this through the year 11 Controlled Assessment

Part of the GCSE course is controlled assessment where students are expected to conduct research on a local small business. The students create a questionnaire or interview local business people based upon a research question set by the exam board.

This gets the students thinking about how the local business world works and how well the small businesses in our local area operate. The end result is that the students can actually offer guidance to local businesses using their research findings.  It also makes the students more aware about business in the local community in general.

“I'm a reflection of the community.” Tupac Shakur

E

In Business and Economics we…

Engage in all opportunities

Through enterprise activities

Within JRCS the business department has tried to encourage students to get various real life business experience by exposing them to real businesses within school· JRCS has a branch of Nat West Bank which the students operate and run. This allows JRCS students to 'pay in' money into their bank accounts and helps them learn the benefit of saving money.

We also have a students organising and running a Stationary Shop. This takes place at break and lunch times daily on main street, where students can buy all their basic stationery at a reasonable price. 

Our year 12 Btec students each year organise and run a lower school disco for key stage 3 students. This is always a huge success and gives the students a good understanding of event management and teamwork.

Over the course of the year the business department, with students help, run a number of fundraising events in support of charities such as MacMillan Cancer Research. This includes coffee mornings, cake baking amongst other things being sold to raise money. All students across the school are able to partake in these events.

“You don’t learn to walk by following rules. You learn by doing, and by falling over.”

Richard Branson

V

In Business and Economics we…

Value, care for and respect each other

Through teaching Economics…

What better way to show young people how to care about each other, to value and respect each other than by showing them how the world works. An understanding of world trade for example and fiscal and monetary policy will help students to understand the increasing importance of global economies and the part they play in our every day lives.

We are not part of a just a local community any more. What happens in other countries effects us more now than ever before. How can our young people learn to value each other if they do not value the way business and governments operate in other countries.

There are some big questions to be answered…

·         What happens if house prices fall?

·         Should bankers be blamed for global recession?

·         Should we use developing countries to mass produce goods?

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

Nelson Mandela

E

In Business and Economics we…

Establish Resilience

In Business we teach young people how to bounce back when they have not been successful first time around.

The Business and Economics Department offers students tailored learning opportunities which allows them to fulfil their potential. An ethos of independent learning and entrepreneurship is promoted which endorses student-led initiatives. The Economics course especially seeks to create an environment where strong relationships are developed between staff and students, and where staff provide honest and constructive feedback that will help each student to fulfil their aspirations. The Department provides an environment that allows students to cultivate and practise skills that can be transferred to ensure future success in the workplace. Guest speakers, trips and work experience are offered to students in order to enrich their business learning and bring them a step closer to the world of work.

The key is if at first you don’t succeed, don’t give up, just ask for guidance and try again.

"I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed." Michael Jordan, Basketball Legend and Entrepreneur