ICT & BUSINESS

The ICT & Business Studies Department at Sheffield Springs Academy is made up of an energetic team of teachers. The ICT suites are located on the first floor and have four teaching classrooms that are equipped with the most up to date computers and interactive whiteboard technology.

Throughout the department we use ActivInspire software, this software allows the student to participate interactively in the lesson by answering questions electronically.  This software also allows the teacher to assess the student throughout the term and see the progress the student is making.  

C Cartledge

S Cliffe

The curriculum for Key Stage Three (KS3) ICT tests and motivates our students to achieve their full potential. We are using new software within the department which includes the Adobe collection from as early as year 7.

In Year 7 and 8 students are introduced to Business and Enterprise. Students undertake a series of projects that develop their skills and knowledge of the ‘world at work’. Whilst progressing through the projects students develop a range of transferable skills such as teamwork, problem solving, communication and finance.

The curriculum at Key Stage Four (KS4) ICT is challenging and stimulating and allows them to build on skills learnt in KS3.  All students follow the OCR National level 2 course, which allows them to complete either the Short Course (½ GCSE), First Award (1 GCSE) or the Award qualification (2 GCSE).  The students can achieve the first certificate (3 GCSE) or the certificate (4 GCSE) if they attend extra lessons after school. 

The course is a practical one with no external exams.  The students complete a range of units from a choice of the following: business, web design, video / sound creation, animation, spreadsheets and databases. 

During Y10 all students complete a GCSE in Business. This builds on the core skills students developed at KS3. Students develop their business knowledge whilst focusing on the importance of communication. Students study a number of units; Communication Systems, Data Gathering Systems and Money Transfer Systems.

At Key stage 5 (KS5) we office the following course, which allows all students to be able to continue developing their ICT skills.

OCR National Level 3:- The course is a practical one with no external exams.  The students complete a range of units from a choice of the following: business, web design, video / sound creation, animation, spreadsheets and databases, e-commerce, digital photography.

This is a fantastic course for students who are more practically minded allowing them to further develop their skills from Level 2.  The qualification ranges from 1 A level to 3 A levels and is a good stepping stone to university qualifications that are more practically based.

Key Stage Four (KS4) results in the ICT & Business Studies Department were the best ever, with well over 90% of our students gaining a grade C. This result puts us near the top of departments for “adding value” – improving students’ results over the 5 years from Y7-Y11 and demonstrates the value of all the work the teachers and students have put in. Students at KS4 have access to the same extra-curricular support as KS3 students and lessons are planned to ensure that every student reaches their potential.