Business and Communications Systems Department Year 10 Information
This GCSE course is designed to enable candidates to develop skills in Business Communication and IT. It provides the opportunity to develop an understanding of how business and communication systems support the requirements of the workplace. Pupils who wish to take Business Studies in Colleges of Further Education would benefit from opting for this course. BCS is taught to Intermediate Level where grades A*-D are available but there is also an option to enter candidates for Foundation Level where grades C-G are available.
The course comprises 40% practical coursework tasks, and 60% written examination. The duration of the theory examinations is as follows:
Paper 1 (Foundation) - 1 hour 45 minutes
Paper 2 (Higher) - 2 hours.
There are eight coursework tasks which are based around a fictitious employment agency. The tasks will be completed in Year 10.
Task 1 involves creating a number of business stationery items.
Task 2 involves the creation of a data capture form.
Task 3 involves the creation of a database to store the information collected in task 2.
Task 4 involves using mail-merge with the database created in Task 3.
Task 5 requires the creation of a report and the creation of advertising material for the company.
Task 6 involves designing and creating a website for the company.
Task 7 requires a complete evaluation of the coursework and analysis of the software used.
Task 8 involves indexing and presenting the coursework in a professional manner.
The theoretical work which is examined requires fundamental knowledge of businesses, and includes amongst others the following topics:
The applications of ICT in the workplace, e.g. software, hardware, software audits, firewalls and virus checkers.
Business practice including knowledge of call centres and e-commerce.
People in the workplace, multi-skilling, team-working, teleworking, workplace policies and practice, Acts of Parliament, and the rights and responsibilities of employers and employees.
Structures of organisations, typical job roles and tasks, wages, salaries and incentives.
Communication e.g. email, letters, reports, video-conferencing, voicemail, fax machines, wap phones etc.
Due to the high volume of coursework involved in this subject, as close as possible to 100% attendance will be required. Pupils with a good standard of English (Level 6 and above at KS3) will be at a distinct advantage in the report writing aspects of this course, which will be crucial to obtaining the top two grades available. The course involves five lessons a fortnight. Most of the class time in the first year is devoted to practical activity and the pupils are expected to do a reasonable amount of the theory as homework.
The course comprises 40% practical coursework tasks, and 60% written examination. The duration of the theory examinations is as follows:
Paper 1 (Foundation) - 1 hour 45 minutes
Paper 2 (Higher) - 2 hours.
There are eight coursework tasks which are based around a fictitious employment agency. The tasks will be completed in Year 10.
Task 1 involves creating a number of business stationery items.
Task 2 involves the creation of a data capture form.
Task 3 involves the creation of a database to store the information collected in task 2.
Task 4 involves using mail-merge with the database created in Task 3.
Task 5 requires the creation of a report and the creation of advertising material for the company.
Task 6 involves designing and creating a website for the company.
Task 7 requires a complete evaluation of the coursework and analysis of the software used.
Task 8 involves indexing and presenting the coursework in a professional manner.
The theoretical work which is examined requires fundamental knowledge of businesses, and includes amongst others the following topics:
The applications of ICT in the workplace, e.g. software, hardware, software audits, firewalls and virus checkers.
Business practice including knowledge of call centres and e-commerce.
People in the workplace, multi-skilling, team-working, teleworking, workplace policies and practice, Acts of Parliament, and the rights and responsibilities of employers and employees.
Structures of organisations, typical job roles and tasks, wages, salaries and incentives.
Communication e.g. email, letters, reports, video-conferencing, voicemail, fax machines, wap phones etc.
Due to the high volume of coursework involved in this subject, as close as possible to 100% attendance will be required. Pupils with a good standard of English (Level 6 and above at KS3) will be at a distinct advantage in the report writing aspects of this course, which will be crucial to obtaining the top two grades available. The course involves five lessons a fortnight. Most of the class time in the first year is devoted to practical activity and the pupils are expected to do a reasonable amount of the theory as homework.
