Mr Prior's letter to parents of Year 11 Business Studies students

6^th January 2011

Dear Parents,

As you will be aware from my previous letter, all Year 11 Business Studies students will be completing their controlled assessment project in a few weeks’ time (w/c 7/02/11 and w/c14/02/11). Students will be required to complete a report based upon previous research that they have undertaken under controlled conditions. The controlled assessment project accounts for 25% of the student’s final GCSE grade and therefore a detailed piece of work is essential to ensure a good final GCSE grade.

Students have been working ontheir research in class and at home and all students should have completed the following research tasks:

·      An overview of the local area in relation to where theyare basing their business

·      Identification of a business need

·      Analysis of the local competition

·      A market research questionnaire

·      An analysis of the results from their questionnaire

I have also set the students one further research task which involves them finding out some of the costs involved in setting up and running their business idea. I will also be spending one lesson going through a proposed structure for the final report to allow students to maximise their chances of success. They will also be given a structure sheet to take home in order to allow them to prepare for the final report. It is essential that adequate preparation takes place outside ofschool.

The purpose of this letter is to further advise parents and guardians of the importance of this project in relation to the final GCSE Business grade, especially given the fact that the majority of this project requires research to be completed outside of lesson time, and that the final stage of this project is due to commence shortly.

If you have any concerns about the controlled assessment project, or would like to discuss this in any further detail, please don’t hesitate to contact me on the number below.

Yours sincerely,

Graham Prior

Graham Prior, Head of BusinessStudies

Sunderland High School