Teachers:
Fiona Crosby, Charlotte Shevlin, Hannah Kealy, Ciara Callaghan and Katie Fitzgerald.
Programme Co-ordinator:
Fiona Crosby
Provision of the Subject in the School
Young people are growing up in a globalised and dynamic world. Studying business helps to equip students with the understanding, skills, and attitudes to participate fully in an interconnected world. Business encourages students to develop an appreciation of how their lives are shaped by economic and social factors. They are enabled to make informed decisions, to better manage their personal financial resources and to be adaptable, creative, and enterprising.
Within the school, business studies is offered as an optional subject for Junior Cycle. Fifth year students choose from a range of subjects, of which business and accounting are offered. TY take a practical approach in looking at how a business operates.
Timetabling
Year Group | Business Studies | Senior cycle Accounting | Senior Cycle Business |
First, Second & Third Year | 4 class periods timetabled weekly |
|
|
Transition Year |
| 2 classes per week | 2 classes per week |
Fifth & Sixth Year |
| 2 double classes + 1 single period per week | 2 double classes + 1 single period per week |
Planning & Development
Over the course of the academic year, a range of both formal and informal meetings took place to support planning and development. The department adopted a collaborative approach, sharing all resources, which resulted in the creation of a shared resource bank on Teams to promote active teaching and learning within the classroom. All department members now have access to these materials.
Professional development was undertaken with the Oide Business team. This training has provided teachers from across the country with opportunities to connect on a regular basis and share ideas on different aspects of the new leaving cert Business curriculum. Oide delivers a range of tailored workshops that support all elements of the Leaving Certificate Business course, while also addressing current and emerging trends in the business world. All Business teachers are members of the Business Studies Teachers Association of Ireland (BSTAI).
This year, we also continued to work closely with local organisations and businesses within the community such as Kingspan and College Group giving them a valuable insight and practical experience of the world of work.
Teaching and Learning
Junior Cycle Business Studies
The Junior Cycle Business course promotes modern teaching and learning methodologies that encourage active student participation. Students engage in collaborative learning through posters, reports, role-play, group work, and presentations. A strong emphasis is placed on regular assessment, allowing students to demonstrate understanding in a variety of formats rather than relying solely on traditional written examinations.
The CBA process, through which students complete ongoing tasks over the two-year cycle, plays an important role in their final assessment descriptor. Our 2nd year students also complete the Student Enterprise Awards in conjunction with their CBA work.
There is also a clear link between Junior Cycle and Leaving Certificate Business, with an emphasis on applying theoretical knowledge to practical business contexts. The use of digital technologies, including computers, further enhances student learning and supports this applied approach.
Leaving Certificate Business Curriculum
The revised Leaving Certificate Business curriculum places greater emphasis on real-world application, financial literacy, and student-centred learning. It aims to develop key skills such as problem-solving, data interpretation, and digital competence. The course also integrates ongoing assessment and applied learning tasks to support deeper understanding of core business concepts.
Assessment and Achievement Component (AAC)
The AAC focuses on assessing students’ ability to apply knowledge in practical and meaningful contexts. It promotes continuous engagement, formative feedback, and the development of key competencies aligned with modern business practices, moving beyond traditional terminal examinations.
Both Junior Cycle and Leaving Certificate reforms have led to increased student engagement and a stronger focus on real-life business scenarios. The shift towards more balanced and varied assessment approaches supports improved teaching, learning, and achievement outcomes.
Information to Parents and Students
The subject is promoted to parents and students at the school Open Evening and the Senior Options Evening attended by both Third Year and TY students and their parents. Information is distributed to all students before they select their Leaving Certificate subjects.
Students attend parent teacher meetings with their parents where their progress is monitored and discussed in detail. Parents have access to their child’s online school report.
The results achieved in the state examinations in business subjects from some of our students continue to be of a high standard and in many cases are rewarded nationally.
During the course of the year, all Business teachers completed in-service training on the new Junior Cycle programme for Business. Leaving Certificate Business teachers also completed in-service training, attending Senior Cycle Business Workshops faciliated by the PDST.
Student Enterprise Awards
The Student Enterprise Awards are a national programme that encourages students to develop entrepreneurial skills by creating and running their own small businesses. Participants work through the full process of business planning, production, marketing, and finance, giving them valuable insight into real-world enterprise. The initiative promotes creativity, innovation, teamwork, and practical business experience.
This year, Aine Clarke achieved outstanding success by winning 3rd place in the Senior Category at the county final. In the Second Year category, Kaitlin Curtis, Clodagh Carolan, Lucy McFadden, Deirbhile Spillane, and Jessica Hagan also performed exceptionally well securing 3rd place.
Other entries that progressed to the county final included Shay Breslin, Teagan Smith, Laylagh Gray, and Zoe McElroy, reflecting a strong level of participation and achievement across the year group.
