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Business Studies
 

The world of work is constantly changing. Today it is uncommon for a person to have only one occupation throughout their working life, so it’s vital that students are able to transfer and adapt their knowledge and skills throughout their careers.  That is why Oakgrove Integrated College is offering students the opportunity to study Business units as part of an Occupational Studies qualification.

Occupational Studies is a qualification which gives students the opportunity to study units which are practical, work related and flexible.  In the Business and Services option block, students will study two business related units and produce a portfolio of work with direction from the teacher.  If the portfolio of work meets the standards set out in the specification then the student will achieve a qualification which is equal to a GCSE grade   A* to C.  Units can include Communication in an Office or Business Environment, Customer Service, Modern Office Procedures, Modern Retailing or Using Office Technology.

There are no examinations in this qualification which is of benefit to students who would find sitting an external exam challenging.  Producing a portfolio of work, however, does require a good level of literacy and organisational skills, the ability to follow guidance provided by the teacher and the motivation to meet deadlines and produce work to a high standard.

CCEA offer the Occupational Studies specifications and they say that this qualification:

  • focuses on occupation and employability;

  • enables progression to other courses, training and employment;

  • helps to raise levels of achievement; and

  • emphasises learning by doing, which helps learners to develop the transferable skills needed in a changing and dynamic working environment.

If a student has an interest in studying Business related subjects then there are a wide variety of jobs that this could lead to.  These include accountancy, advertising/marketing, retail buying, retail management, human resource management, sales manager, public relations officer, market research executive and banking jobs.  Students may also wish to consider setting up their own business and becoming self-employed.

To find out more about this qualification, visit the CCEA website and follow the links to the Occupation Studies Microsite.  You will find the specification for Business and Services there, along with the full list of possible units.

For further information please see Ms Morris in Room 34.

Financial Services – Level 2 Certificate in Financial Education

 

At Oakgrove, students are given the opportunity to study for a qualification in Financial Services.  This is a subject which helps students to manage their own personal finances as they move forward into adulthood.  It is a very topical, relevant, practical and flexible qualification which students will certainly benefit from studying.  Financial Services is equivalent to a GCSE grade A* to C.

This qualification is divided into three units which students study over the two GCSE years. Each unit is examined when the class is ready to be entered and the exams, for the most part, are multiple choice questions.  Exams last for 45 minutes.  This is very beneficial for students who find traditional GCSE exam papers challenging and it usually leads to a higher grade at the end of two years if the students work hard in class.  All three exams must be passed to achieve the overall Financial Services qualification.  The units are:

  • Unit 1 – Finance, the Individual and Society

  • Unit 2 – Practices of Managing Money

  • Unit 3 – Financial Capability, Work and Enterprise

Students who study Financial Services may be interested in pursuing this area of study at the next level or they may wish to consider a job in this area.  Jobs include banking roles, insurance based work, accountancy, payroll administration, working in the finance department of private sector businesses or other more general business jobs.

 

For further information please see Ms Morris in Room 34.

BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Business

 

 

At Oakgrove Integrated College we are offering students the opportunity to study for the BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Business.  This is equivalent to one A Level and is widely accepted by universities when students apply for courses at the next level. 

 

The BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Business helps students to become occupationally ready to take up employment in the business sector at the appropriate level. This can follow either directly after achieving the qualification, or via the stepping stone of Higher Education (HE) in university or college. By studying a BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate, students develop knowledge, understanding and skills required by the sector, including essential employability skills, and apply them in real work contexts. 

 

In order to achieve this qualification, students complete four units across the two years.  Two of these are portfolio based units and the other two are assessed through an examination set by Edexcel.  The four units are:

 

Exploring Business – portfolio based

Developing a Marketing Campaign – exam based

Personal and Business Finance – exam based

Work Experience in Business – portfolio based

 

Once all four units have been completed and assessed, students are awarded either a pass, merit or distinction grade; a distinction being equal to an A grade at A Level.  Students need to be prepared to meet regular deadlines, have the motivation to produce work to a high standard, be able to follow the guidelines provided to complete tasks and work in an organised manner.  They also have to be prepared to study hard in order to pass the exams.

 

When choosing what else to study alongside the Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Business, students might like to consider the Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma in Travel and Tourism which is also offered at Oakgrove.  The two qualifications complement each other.

 

If you are interested in this qualification, please see Ms Morris in Room 34 for further information.

Edexcel BTEC Level 2 Diploma in Travel and Tourism At Oakgrove College

 

Year 12 students receive the results of their GCSE examinations at the end of August.  This can be an exciting time for students but also a time when making the right choices for Post 16 courses is very important.  It can be an anxious time for students who do not achieve 5 GCSE grades A* - C because this means that choosing A Level subjects is not an option.  This is why Oakgrove offers a Level 2 course in Travel and Tourism.  If you achieve 4 GCSE grades D-G in August and you have a good standard of literacy and numeracy, then you may wish to consider studying for a BTEC Level 2 Diploma in Travel and Tourism. 

 

Key Features of this qualification:

This qualification has been developed to-

  • Give students the opportunity to develop a range of vocationally relevant skills and techniques along with personal skills and attributes essential for successful performance in working life.

  • Give students the opportunity to enter employment in the Travel and Tourism sector or to progress to other vocational qualifications such as BTEC Level 3 Nationals in a range of subjects or to move on to A Level qualifications.  It is a stepping stone to the next stage of your education.

 

What subject areas are covered in the BTEC Level 2 Diploma in Travel and Tourism?

There are a range of specialist areas that are delivered through this course-

Learners will take a total of 11–13 units to complete this qualification.

These units will include:

● 3 core units

● 4 mandatory units

● 4–6 optional specialist units – further details on the Edexcel website

Core units:

1              The UK Travel and Tourism Sector - exam

2              UK Travel and Tourism Destinations - cw

11           Delivering the Travel and Tourism Customer Experience - cw

Mandatory units:

3              The Development of Travel and Tourism in the UK - cw

4              International Travel and Tourism Destinations - cw

5              Factors Affecting Worldwide Travel and Tourism - cw

7              Travel and Tourism Business Environments - exam

 

Course Structure

This qualification is assessed through coursework for the most part with two exam units as well.  Each coursework unit studied will have an assignment which students work through, completing tasks to build up a portfolio of work throughout the year.  Evidence for assessment may be generated through project work, case studies, work placement assessment, role play and oral presentation.  The exam units require students to study a range of topic areas and these are examined in January with repeats available in June.

 

The course is delivered in ONE year.

 

On successful completion of this qualification, students will be awarded a Pass, Merit or Distinction grade and this is equal to 4 GCSEs grades A – C.

 

Please see Ms Morris for further information.

BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma in Travel and Tourism

 

 

At Oakgrove Integrated College we offer students the opportunity to study for the Subsidiary Diploma in Travel and Tourism.  This is equivalent to one A Level and is widely accepted by universities when students apply for courses at the next level.  Tourism is a growing industry.  It is the UK’s fifth largest industry, the third largest export earner and worth £115 billion a year. It employs 2.6 million people and supports over 200,000 small and medium sized enterprises.  That is why it is important for students to have the option to study in this area.

 

The BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma helps students to become occupationally ready to take up employment in the travel and tourism sector at the appropriate level. This can follow either directly after achieving the qualification, or via the stepping stone of Higher Education (HE) in university or college. By studying a BTEC Subsidiary Diploma, students develop knowledge, understanding and skills required by the sector, including essential employability skills, and apply them in real work contexts. 

 

In order to achieve this qualification, students complete six units across the two years.  These are all portfolio based so there will be no examination to pass.  The six units are:

 

Investigating the Travel and Tourism Sector

The Business of Travel and Tourism

The UK as a Destination

Customer Service in Travel and Tourism

European Destinations

Long-Haul Travel Destinations

 

Once all six units have been completed and assessed, students are awarded either a pass, merit or distinction grade; a distinction being equal to an A grade at A Level.  Students need to be prepared to meet regular deadlines, have the motivation to produce work to a high standard, be able to follow the guidelines provided to complete tasks and work in an organised manner. 

 

When choosing what else to study alongside the Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma in Travel and Tourism, students might like to consider the Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Business Studies which is also offered at Oakgrove.  The two qualifications complement each other.

 

If you are interested in this qualification, please see Ms Morris in Room 34 for further information.

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