Beyond the Classroom

Year 11 students team up with students from other schools to run their own enterprise. They have to raise their own funds by selling shares, design and produce their own product or service and market it in order to make a profit. After about six months the business is wound up and the funds are distributed to shareholders. The teams must create a business plan and establish financial, manufacturing, quality control, sales, marketing and environmental policies. They are expected to apply break-even analysis and other business and accounting principles in the financial management of the venture.

Running and operating a real life business also provides an in depth, practical opportunity for students to develop and demonstrate key competencies and employability skills in a supportive yet challenging learning environment.

The program is cross-curricular and students can expect to benefit from and develop:

• interaction with business role models (volunteer mentors from the business world)
• hands on experience in the development of business competencies
• skills in team work, communication, decision making, planning and time management
• opportunities to exercise responsibility and initiative
• leadership and presentation skills
• knowledge and experience for more informed career decisions
• a sense of achievement, pride and self confidence
• an opportunity to complete units in the nationally accredited Certificate II in Business

The program is usually run for 24 weeks involving after school sessions on the premises of the sponsor organisation.