The S3 Business and Finance optional subject is delivered two periods a week.  It aims to cover the key benchmarks contained in Level 3 and 4 of the Curriculum for Excellence Social Studies area and, in particular, the People in Society, Economy and Business sub-topics.

 

BGE Benchmarks Social Subjects Level 3 and 4 – People in Society, Economy and Business

Examining the role of the entrepreneur in setting up as a sole trader, partnership and as a private limited company, students will discover the opportunities afforded to any citizen to set up their own business. Guest speakers are invited to share their own experiences.

To create group and interactive experiences, students work on their own creative product or service design – in previous years students have participated  in the Coca-Cola Challenge and succeeded in getting through to the national finals.  This year we hope to enter the Subway Challenge competition. Vicky Hamilton, designer of Recoil Knee Pads, has supported our students by judging the internal competition.

The Third Sector is also covered and students take part in a social enterprise activity each year at Christmas to sell decorated Candy Canes to fellow Clydeview pupils. The classes also explore the aims of a number of charities before choosing on one to donate the funds to.

A popular activity to support learning in the Finance topic is the Pie Factory game where the students bid for contracts, manage costs and produce their own Income Statement; learning about key accountancy topics such as fixed and variable costs, sales revenue and gross/net profit (and loss!).  This leads into the Break-Even topic which explores how decision making is influenced by financial figures in most businesses.

The Enterprise Game is used to explore internal and external factors which affect each business e.g. actions of rivals, weather, breakdown of machinery or legal influences.