S1

All pupils will have one period a week of ICT which consists of a combination of learning / developing their ICT skills using Microsoft packages such as word processing, spreadsheets, databases, publisher and powerpoint.  Pupils will also learn about internet safety and coding.

S2

All pupils visit the department once a week and are on a rota basis.  They usually spend half the term with Business Studies and half with Computing Science.  This allow pupils the opportunity to get a taste for what these subjects are like in order to help them make an informed choice for S3.

In S2 Business Studies pupils will work through Welcome to Business; they will run an imaginary café and use their ICT skills to work through business related tasks and themes such as marketing, Fairtrade and finance.

In S2 Computing Science pupils will develop a range of problem solving skills. They will do this by designing and building websites, animations and apps, and by learning to create programs in a range of programming languages.

S3

In S3 we offer the following subjects: Administration, Business Management and Computing Science.

In S3 Administration the course makes an important contribution to general education through developing a range of essential skills which will stand learners in good stead regardless of the career path they ultimately choose. Its contribution to vocational education is just as significant because it opens up progression to a range of careers in administration and IT.

In S3 Business pupils will gain:

• knowledge and understanding of business concepts in a range of contexts
• awareness of the processes and procedures businesses use to ensure customers’ needs are met
• enterprising skills, and adopt enterprising attributes, by participating in practical activities in realistic business situations
• financial awareness through a business context
• an insight into the impact of the economy on businesses and our daily lives, thus gaining economic awareness

In S3 Computing Science pupils will further develop their problem solving skills and gain experience creating solutions in the 4 topics covered in the National 5 course: Computer Systems, Software Design and Development, Database Design and Development and Web Design and Development. There are opportunities for completing team projects and making use of a wide range of different computer hardware and software.