Grade 10 Elective Subject Information


A brief description of the elective subjects to give some idea of the substance of these subjects. These are compiled the staff who teach them.

Accounting

The school syllabus provides a thorough grounding in basic principles of Accounting, as well as introducing pupils to a wide range of forms of business-ownership, and the books kept by these businesses. Pupils learn how to draw up the books and financial statements of sole traders, partnerships, non-profit organizations and companies (including cash flow statements). Other topics include bank reconciliation statements, debtors and creditors’ ledgers, asset disposal, cash budgets, ratio analysis, VAT and Manufacturing Accounting. Business ethics and good accounting practice is also included.

There is a time pressure as the Grade 8, 9 and 10 syllabus is covered in Grade 10. The final FET exam, at the end of grade 12, covers all the work in Grade 10, 11 and 12. Experience has shown that sound ability in Maths is usually a prerequisite for success in this subject, and boys should be attaining at least 60 to 65% in Maths at the end of Grade 9. The subject also requires an ability to interpret information as well as good reading skills, so a good competency in English is also strongly advised. However what is probably more important than that is an ability to think logically, a strong work ethic, enthusiasm and good levels of concentration. Success, and an interest, in Economic Management Science in Grade Nine should not be taken as an indicator of success in Accounting as Accounting tends to be of a far more technical nature as opposed to exploring the broad business concepts in Economic Management Science. In the same manner, the subject is in no way related to Economics, which is far more theoretical. An interest in business would however be a prerequisite for taking Accounting as a subject. Boys must also be able to work under pressure particularly during tests and exams.

Accounting is definitely a life-skill subject, as everyone needs an understanding of finance, but it is certainly a business language requiring a definite aptitude for this “type” of work. At Bishops, we cover work beyond what is required in the curriculum with the aim of giving our boys the edge when entering university. There is a perception that boys entering a commercial degree need not have studied Accounting at school. The truth is that universities need to ensure that they are casting the net as wide as possible so will market their degrees with the view that Accounting at school is not a necessity. Feedback from boys who have studied Accounting at school suggests a distinct advantage in having done so; likewise boys who had not taken the subject found the work challenging particularly during their first year at university. Ultimately those boys going on to study a business degree/diploma will find that they have a head start on those who have not taken Accounting before.

In closing, parents should not put pressure on their sons to take the subject. There must be a strong desire and motivation from the boys themselves.