Setting

practice visit)

Thank you for your hospitality and co-operation, and that of your staff, during my visit on 27 January 2009 to look at work in business education.

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practice visit)

As outlined in my initial letter, as well as looking at key areas of the subject, the visit had a particular focus on economic and business understanding for all students.

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practice visit)

The visit provided valuable information which will contribute to our national evaluation and reporting. Published reports are likely to list the names of the contributing institutions, but individual institutions will not be identified in the main text without their consent.

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practice visit)

The evidence used to inform the judgements made included: interviews with staff and students, scrutiny of relevant documentation, analysis of students’ work and observation of parts of four lessons.

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Features of good practice observed

 Standards in GCSE applied business are very high. A very high proportion of students gain grades A*-C. Students make outstanding progress from Years 7 to 11.  The attitude and behaviour of students on business education courses are excellent. Students are well motivated and extremely good relationships were evident in all lessons observed, fostering hard work and excellent progress.  The teaching observed was never less than good and sometimes outstanding, reflecting the school’s own assessment and the extremely positive views of students. Teachers are very knowledgeable and enthusiastic. They give strong emphasis to ensuring that all students make the progress they are capable of. Alexandra House 33 Kingsway London WC2B 6SE T 08456 404040 F 020 7421 6855 www.ofsted.gov.uk enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk

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Features of good practice observed

Mr R Hodges Headteacher Beauchamps Business & Enterprise College Beauchamps Drive Wickford Essex SS11 8LY  Teachers deploy a wide range of teaching and learning styles, including teacher-led discussion, individual, and group work, and presentations. They check students’ knowledge and understanding frequently and inspire them with confidence. Students feel well supported and are made aware of how to improve their work through helpful written comments and oral feedback. Teachers give willingly of their own time.  Some students have been very successful in Young Enterprise competitions. Links with employers have been used well to enhance the enterprise curriculum but this has developed more slowly for specialist business courses.  Departmental self-evaluation is strong. Key areas for improvement have been identified and appropriate action has been put in place to address them.  The business and enterprise course taken by all students in Years 7-9

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Features of good practice observed

is effective in developing students’ understanding of basic business concepts. Students’ understanding of the economic system and their financial capability are further developed through a strong programme of personal, social, health and economic education. This is supplemented by each subject contributing to enterprise education and whole school enterprise days.

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Features of good practice observed

We agreed that an area for development would be to provide more opportunities within business examination courses for students to engage directly with businesses and employers.

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Features of good practice observed

I hope these observations are useful as you continue to develop business education in the school.

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Features of good practice observed

As I explained in my previous letter, a copy of this letter will be sent to your local authority and will be published on Ofsted’s website. It will also be available to the team for your next institutional inspection.

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