Entrepreneurship

We are now housed in Mappa Mundi classroom block, within the faculty of History, Politics, Philosophy & Economics (HPPE), with whom we have a number of natural curriculum links.

The BTEC course is a vocational ‘A level equivalent’ sixth form course. The BTEC is 58% examination and 42% coursework assessed. The two examination units are:

1. Business & Personal Finance:

Financial accounts, etc and a comprehensive understanding of personal finance from, savings and investments to sources of financial advice and regulation. (2hr exam).

2. Developing a Marketing Campaign based on pre-released material, where pupils have to interpret

research data and formulate a marketing plan, including budget and timelines. (3hr exam). The coursework over two years covers 4 assignments, two each year:

1. Enterprise and Entrepreneurship
2. Running an Enterprise
3. Social Enterprise
4. Running a Social Enterprise

There are agreed and clear internal deadlines that must be met by all pupils to enable qualification to be confirmed by the School and its BTEC Moderator.There are various speakers/entrepreneurs who visit the school and explain their business development and this makes the subject a very real-world experience.

Most universities will make offers for BTEC awards, with the exception of Oxbridge; Durham & St Andrew’s. The UCAS points equivalence to A Level grading is as follows:

Distinction* = A*   grade at A Level

Distinction   = A    grade at A Level

Merit           = C    grade at A Level

Pass           = E    grade at A Level

It makes a good one year or two year option for Merchiston pupils. Currently the pupils sit the Finance unit examination at the end of the L6th and the Marketing paper at the end of the U6th year. Those wishing to stop the subject after one year do not need to sit the examination if it doesn’t suit their overall profile needs for UCAS.