Digital & Commerce
Our Digital and Commerce Faculty consists of our highly successful Computer Science, Media, and Business departments. As a faculty, we are future focused - preparing for the careers of today and tomorrow. We are proud to be at the forefront, offering an innovative year nine programme, and a wide range of academic and vocational subjects including five different Key Stage Four qualifications and seven different Key Stage Five qualifications. 
Key Staff
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Mrs L Close - Head of Digital & Commerce Faculty, (Head of Media) and Designated Teacher
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Mr D Fido - Head of Computing, Second in Digital & Commerce, Digital Literacy Co-ordinator
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Mr J Slark - Head of Business Studies
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Mr A Evans - Teacher of Media
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Mr J Higgins - Teacher of Computer Science
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Mr C Irvine - Teacher of Economics
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Mrs R Rosewell - Teacher of Economics
Subject Information
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Computing
Computing
Computing equips students for the digital world. Technology is all around us, and it is important to understand how it works, and the way it impacts on society. Skills gained include problem solving, logical thinking, and developing digital literacy.
Key Stage 3 - Years 7, 8 & 9
Curriculum Summary
The following links provide useful revision resources:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/education/subjects/zvc9q6f
Key Stage 4 - Computer Science. Exam Board: AQA
Subject content
- Fundamentals of algorithms
- Programming
- Fundamentals of data representation
- Computer systems
- Fundamentals of computer networks
- Cyber security
- Relational databases and structured query language (SQL)
- Ethical, legal and environmental impacts of digital technology on wider society, including issues of privacy
For details of how GCSE Computer Science is assessed, please click here.
Key Stage 5 - A Level Computer Science. Exam board: OCR
To view details of our A Level course please click here.
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Business Studies
Business Studies
GCSE Business Studies (Full Course)
Course Outline
We follow the new AQA GCSE 9-1 specification for Business. This course will give you the opportunity to explore real business issues, and how businesses work. You will consider the practical application of business concepts and explore these through the context of events in the business and economic world. This GCSE Business course has two exams that will be sat in the summer exam series (May - June). This qualification is linear. Linear means that students will sit all their exams at the end of the course.
Subject content
- 1. Business in the real world
- 2. Influences on business
- 3. Business operations
- 4. Human resources
- 5. Marketing
- 6. Finance
Assessments
Paper 1: Influences of operations and HRM on business activity
What's assessed
• Business in the real world
• Influences on business
• Business operations
• Human resources
How it's assessed
• Written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes
• 90 marks
• 50% of GCSE
Questions
• Section A has multiple choice questions and short answer questions worth 20 marks.
•Section B has one case study/data response stimuli with questions worth approximately 34marks.
• Section C has one case study/data response stimuli with questions worth approximately 36 marks.
Paper 2: Influences of marketing and finance on business activity
What's assessed
• Business in the real world
• Influences on business • Marketing
• Finance
How it's assessed
• Written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes
• 90 marks • 50% of GCSE Questions
• Section A has multiple choice questions and short answer questions worth 20 marks.
• Section B has one case study/data response stimuli with questions worth approximately 34marks.
• Section C has one case study/data response stimuli with questions worth approximately 36 marks.
https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/business/gcse/business-8132/specification-at-a-glance
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Media Studies
Media Studies
GCSE Media Studies - Eduqas
We live in a world where we are surrounded by media messages - from video clips on your phone to TV ads, 24-hour news channels and blockbuster movies. Media Studies seeks to make sense of them all - what are they trying to communicate, how do we know we have been influenced, does the media reflect reality?
By analysing a wide range of media products, you will increase your knowledge and understanding of communication, design, research, technology, and creativity.
You will also learn the production skills and processes to make your own media products including video editing, photography, design, and Photoshop. The course is 70% exam across two components and 30% coursework.
Course Content
In Year 10 you will be taught the key concepts of Media Language, Representation, Audience, and Industry, covering the following set texts: -
Advertisements: - 1950s Quality Street advert, This Girl Can
Film Marketing: - The Man with the Golden Gun and No Time To Die
Magazines: - Vogue and GQ
Newspapers: - The Guardian and The Sun
Video Games: - Fortnite
Radio: - The Archers
Music Video and Artist promotion: - Taylor Swift, Stormzy and Duran Duran
In Year 11 you will make your own media product to fit a brief and explore the television industry with a focus on Crime Drama through Luther and The Sweeney.
A Level Media Studies - Eduqas
Course Outline
Students will be following the Eduqas course. On this course, students will study a variety of set texts and consider how context can have an impact.
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Creative iMedia
Creative iMedia
Cambridge National (OCR) Creative iMedia
(Year 11 only)
This practical course will give students the opportunity to gain understanding, knowledge and skills across the creative digital media sectors. It is aimed at students who enjoy practical and creative computer tasks and want to create digital content, including graphics, photography and video.
This course is made up of three modules: -
R093 - Creative iMedia in the media industry (40%)
R094 - Visual identity and digital graphics (25%)
R098 - Visual imaging (35%)
Course Content
In Year 10 you will get a grounding in key concepts of Digital Media for the examination. You will understand the purpose of a range of pre-production documents including workplans, moodboards and scripts. You will be taught to use Photoshop and will then complete the Visual Identity and Digital Graphics coursework which will include planning and creating your own coursework to meet a brief.
In Year 11 you will complete the larger coursework unit which will include photography and creating digital video. For this, you will be taught how to use Premiere Pro.
At the end of the course, students achieve a Pass, Merit, Distinction, Distinction*.
Link to the course: - Cambridge Nationals - Creative iMedia Level 1/2 - J834 - OCR
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Film Studies
Film Studies
GCSE Film Studies - Eduqas
Film is an important part of many people’s lives, drawing audiences into the lives of the characters and their narratives through powerful sound, cinematography and design. We’ll explore the history of Hollywood, the importance of independent films and develop your understanding of film and the impact that it has on differing audiences.
The qualification is split into three components:
- Component 1: Key Developments in US Film is an examination worth 35% of the grade. This unit demonstrates an understanding of three American films including two mainstream films and an independent film. Set texts are ET, Invasion of the Body Snatchers and The Hate U Give.
- Component 2: Global Film: Narrative, Representation and Film Style explores three further films including a global English language, a subtitled non-English language and a UK film. Set texts include Jojo Rabbit, The Farewell and Blinded By The Light. This is worth 35% of the grade.
- Component 3: The final component is the Non-Examined, or Coursework component, worth the final 30% of the grade. In this, students will be taught how to produce their own film extract or screenplay and will then evaluate their work.
Students will have access to camera equipment and a range of computer software including Adobe Premiere Pro in order to produce their non-examined assessment.
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Vocational Award in ICT
Vocational Award in ICT
Level 1/2 Vocational Award in ICT (WJEC)
This Vocational Award in ICT will develop students’ knowledge and understanding of the ICT sector and provide them with opportunities to develop associated practical skills which will be beneficial in the world of work. It covers ‘ICT in Society’; allowing learners to explore the wide range of uses of hardware, application and specialist software, and ‘ICT in context’; introducing learners to a broad working knowledge of databases, spreadsheets, automated documents and images.
This course is made up of two units:
Unit 1: ICT in Society
- Explore the wide range of uses of hardware, application and specialist software in society .
- Investigate how information technology is used in a range of contexts, including business and organisations, education and homes.
Unit 2: ICT in Context
- Gain a working knowledge of databases, spreadsheets, automated documents and images.
- Learn to apply your knowledge and understanding to solve problems in vocational settings.
Course Assessment:
You will be assessed through a mixture of exams and controlled assessments.
- Unit 1 will be assessed through an exam which is worth 40% of your qualification. The exam will last 1 hour and 20 minutes, it will be made up of short and extended response questions.
- Unit 2 will be assessed with project work (no exam) which is worth 60% of your qualification. As part of this assessment, you will be given a scenario and will need to undertake a number of tasks.
Why this course?
You will develop a number of skills which are attractive to employer, colleges and universities including:
- Communication
- Coping with rapid changes in technology
- Critical thinking
- Designing, programming, testing and evaluating software systems
- Learning independently
- Numeracy and data handling
- Problem solving
- Research
- Taking on responsibility
- Time management
Link to the course: Level 1/2 Vocational Award in ICT (eduqas.co.uk)
Key Stage 3 - Years 7, 8 and 9
All students study Computing in years 7 - 9. The subject equips students for the digital world. Technology is all around us, and it is important to understand how it works, and the way it impacts on society. Skills gained include problem solving, logical thinking, and developing digital literacy.
Curriculum Summary
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Year 7
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Year 8
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Year 9
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Digital & Commerce Milestone Assessments 2024/25
In year 9 students participate in the Digital and Commerce Carousel where they study Computing, Business Studies and Media Studies for a term each, helping them make their GCSE option choices.
Key Stage 4 GCSE - Years 10 and 11
Key Stage 5 - Years 12 and 13
Extra Curricular Opportunities
We are pleased to make further extra-curricular opportunities to stretch students, including a coding club, film screenings, the BBC report day, and a variety of speakers from within industry. In the summer, the Media department holds a popular Showcase evening.
Last Updated October 2024
