Business Studies
Business Studies is taught as an option choice at both GCSE and A Level. Students develop an understanding of the Business world and appreciate that businesses have to operate in society with a wide range of stakeholders with varying perspectives. We also teach Enterprise to Key Stage 3 students through our Timetabled Enrichment.
Students learn and develop valuable skills such as team work, communication, using their initiative, and evaluation skills. Students will apply knowledge to current issues and problems.
All Business students are provided with the opportunity to join the Young Enterprise programme, where they run their own business for an academic year from September to March.
Exam Boards:
A Level Business Studies: AQA
BTEC Business Level 3: Pearson Edexcel
BTEC Business Administration Technical Certificate: Pearson Edexcel
GCSE Business Studies: AQA
BTEC Business Level 2: Pearson Edexcel
Statement of Intent
In Year 10, students learn about how organisations are structured and the process of recruitment and selection. Students complete their own CVs and Job Application forms to give them a real understanding of how to apply for a job. Mock interviews take place and students interview each other after the teacher has taught the basic requirements of the recruitment process. This will help students towards their career progression post-16. Students then learn about the marketing aspect of business where they develop the key skills of collecting, organising and analysing primary and secondary market research. Students participate in an Apprentice style challenge whereby students will incorporate knowledge and experience gained through business planning in year 9 alongside the 4 P’s of the marketing mix. We introduce the fundamentals of business finance at the end of year 10 as this is the most challenging that requires the basics learnt in the previous content delivered, which is then revisited in Year 11. In Year 11 we spiral the course from the beginning to the end focusing on the application of knowledge in relation to case studies and making evaluative judgements.
As students move to year 12, they choose either the BTEC or A level route. For both courses, the sequence of content is based on business basics and features of successful business at the beginning. In BTEC, this allows students to build knowledge of real world businesses and apply to the more challenging and synoptic units of principles of management and marketing in Year 13. Students also use their business skills and knowledge from previous units to finish the course in a crescendo where they complete recruitment and selection in readiness for their career path. All business students have the opportunity to partake in the Young Enterprise company programme, this allows them to set up and run a real business. Entrepreneurial skills are developed through the YE programme and external business advisors assigned to the business.
In A level, lessons are sequenced to ensure students have a grasp of business basics, this is also important as many students are new to the subject enabling them to have a basic understanding of topics such as ‘What is business?’ and ‘Management and Leadership’. Functional areas such as human resources and operations of a business are then learnt, with a gradual move to the more complex topics such as strategic direction and culture in year 13.
The intent for all students is to become business literate and have the ability to be ambitious and confident people who can progress within businesses as an employer or employee. Our intent is to promote entrepreneurial skills and to inspire pupils to set up and run their own successful businesses. These aspects of the curriculum contribute to the students’ enjoyment of learning, whilst becoming confident and successful in their overall outcomes.