Business Studies
Yet another eventful year in the Business Studies Department as Mr. D. Parker stepped in to deliver GCSE Business Studies while Mrs. H. Mullan is on a career break. Business Studies being Mr. Parker’s second subject meant that he took on his role with ease.
Business Studies is continuing to grow with 2 separate Year 11 and Year 12 classes. The popularity of the subject can be attributed to the strong links we have established with Young Enterprise and with the Causeway Enterprise Agency in Coleraine. The pupils have been actively involved in a ‘Go for it’ seminar and workshop at the University of Ulster, a Business Enterprise workshop held in school and an Enterprise Workshop which involved pupils interviewing local business people. All of these activities are enjoyable, fund and of course, help pupils to learn business skills.
The Year 11 had an opportunity to set up their own mini-company and this year it was called Picafoto Ltd. The pupils became shareholders of the company and after carrying out market research decided to sell personalized keyrings with photos of pupils. So the digital camera and colour printer were busy for a number of weeks while the pupils took hundreds of orders!! Indeed, the shareholders met problems along the way but part of the purpose of forming a company is to involve the pupils in problem-solving in real-life situations. The mini-company is a perfect example of pupils working together with a common goal – making money!!! The pupils were well rewarded when the bills were all paid and the dividends were given out.
We look forward to next year when for the first time we plan to involve the Year 11 pupils in a 6-week Business Project run by Young Enterprise, which involves groups of pupils competing against each other to run virtual businesses. As usual we expect the pupils to rise to the challenge!
