Our new Business School provides outstanding facilities for those of our pupils who wish to take Economics, Business Studies, Accounting and Psychology courses in the Sixth Form. It contains first rate study facilities and rooms for both formal and informal exchange of ideas.
Besides meeting the demands of their academic A level courses our pupils participate in more practical business related activities, such as establishing their own enterprise companies and a variety of business simulations which introduce young people to the realities of the economic world.
Under the direction of Judith Grazier, the Business School’s Director, we provide opportunities for pupils to visit businesses. We have a programme of speakers from our successful and highly competitive economic region. Our girls, therefore, have a significant advantage in gaining experience of the “real” world.
All these initiatives and opportunities impact on all our pupils, and not just those who opt for business-related subjects in the Sixth Form. Over the past four years, 32% of our girls have pursued a business-related degree course. Wide awareness of the demands of the economic world is essential for all our futures.
Never has the UK been in more need of encouragement of an entrepreneurial spirit amongst its young people. We live in a rapidly changing world where enterprise, creativity and the capacity to take well informed, calculated risks are essential for the strength of our economy and the future prosperity of our people.
The HLC Business School shows our determination to become a market leader in independent education.
Entrepreneurial Opportunities:
LEAP
LEAP, Leeds Enterprise Agency Programme, is a scheme designed to provide an opportunity to set up and run a company. Each company, with the support of a Business Adviser, allocates Director Roles, identifies a product to sell and a market to sell to, agrees a company name and prepares a Business Plan. Pupils sell their products both in and out of school and benefit from attending a range of LEAP business seminars. Learning by doing provides an excellent introduction to the ‘real’ world.
Suite of Seminar Rooms
The Business School environment includes a resource centre and three newly refurbished seminar rooms, equipped with the latest technology. The nature and style of the seminar rooms emulate the world of business and include a board room to encourage group discussions and decisions. Others are a conference style to allow larger group participation.
Business & Coffee
The HLC Business School includes a Sixth Form café the Hub, This is a place to relax, listen, debate and share. The café provides a wonderfulvenue for the Business Breakfast Club.
HLC Apprentice
The Middle School pupils (Year 10 to 11) are offered an opportunity to take part in the HLC Apprentice. This extra-curricular activity involves them facing a series of challenges over an academic year and they are encouraged to use
HLC Apprentice
their initiative, to negotiate, solve problems and to work as a team. At the end of the year, one pupil is acknowledged to be the HLC Apprentice of the Year.
Business Breakfast Club
The Business Breakfast Club meets regularly, before school, to discuss the latest news and events over coffee and croissants.
Team Challenge
The Upper 3 are challenged to solve a series of problems which require them to use their initiative and to develop their teamwork, problem solving and negotiating skills.
Careers Forum
This event held after school, in the Spring Term, provides an informal opportunity for Middle School and Sixth Form students to attend a number of business career workshops and listen to the advice of several local successful business men and women. The opportunity to chat and ask questions, in an informal supportive environment is appreciated by both students and supporters.
National Conferences and Conventions
Students are given the opportunity to attend a variety of business conferences and conventions, both local and national. The Business School ethos encourages students to see and listen to inspirational, high-achievers. A favourite conference is ‘Breaking the Mould, Women in Leadership’, at which over twenty women share their business experiences with hundreds of sixth form girls.
Visiting Speakers
We regularly invite a wide range of guest speakers into school to talk to the girls. This area is home to many successful business men and women who are only too happy to share tales of their careers, the highs and the lows, with the girls.
Enterprise Day
The Lower School is offered an opportunity to take part in an enterprising Dragon’s Den type activity, whereby they work in teams for a day to develop an idea for a product. The ideas are presented to a team of business ‘Dragons’ who put the girls though their paces!
