Business Studies

Business is our business

Head of Department:  Mrs J Lilleyman

Business Studies allows students the opportunity to explore the dynamic world of business. Through the option of BTEC, GCSE and A level we have a course to suit every type of learner. 

Our curriculum is chosen to support our students in their future careers whether in business or not.  Business Studies allows students to gain transferable skills which will help to develop a broad knowledge and understanding of business operations, marketing, finance, external influences and technology in business. Through studying Business students learn skills that are invaluable to them in the future.  

The overall aim of delivering this curriculum is to help our students to gain the necessary skills to be able to take their place in the financial and non-financial world of work and be prepared for the jobs of the future.

CURRICULUM DOCUMENTS (Business Studies)

At Key Stage 4, we follow Edexcel in Business.  The aim of delivering this course is to help our students gain an in depth understanding of business acumen and the skills needed to run a successful business. Students are introduced to a wide range of business examples through case studies and understanding how key functional areas operate within a business. Students learn about techniques businesses use to understand their market and develop products, investigate what makes a product viable and understand how businesses attract and retain customers. The course has both an examination and vocational element, which complements A Level or vocational courses students may take in Key Stage 5.

We follow the A Level Edexcel course in Year 12 and 13. The course is delivered in 4 themes which combine Marketing, Operations, Finance and Human Resources.

Students will be taught how to evaluate risk versus reward using strategic tools such as the Boston Matrix, Ansoff’s Matrix, Porter’s Strategic Matrix, Porter’s 5 forces, SWOT analysis and financial ratios. This course requires essay writing and interpretation of data. Good numeracy and literacy skills are essential.

The course is theoretical, there are no practical requirements, assessment is 100% exam based.

There is no requirement to have taken Business at GCSE in order to take Business at A Level.

As part of this curriculum, we aim to instil our students with a passion for Business though bringing real world economic issues into our lessons, encouraging students to conduct regular outside research and providing them with curriculum enhancement opportunities such as educational trips and outside speakers from various financial institutions.  This will also give then transferrable skills like problem solving, team working, making judgements; this will be achieved in the delivery of lessons and getting students to think critically about the subject.

Business Studies Learning Journey

Business Studies at Key Stage 4

Qualification: GCSE Business
Exam Board: Edexcel
Coursework: None
Exam: 100% 
Exam Structure: 2 x 1hr 45min exam papers sat in the summer of Year 11
Link to specification: Edexcel GCSE Business

Course Overview:
In Year 10 students will learn about:

• Topic 1.1 Enterprise and entrepreneurship – students are introduced to the dynamic nature of business in relation to how and why business ideas come about. They also explore the impact of risk and reward on business activity and the role of entrepreneurship.
• Topic 1.2 Spotting a business opportunity – students will explore how new and small businesses identify opportunities through understanding customer needs and conducting market research. They will also focus on understanding the competition.
• Topic 1.3 Putting a business idea into practice – this topic focuses on making a business idea happen through identifying aims and objectives and concentrating on the financial aspects.
• Topic 1.4 Making the business effective – students will explore a range of factors that impact on the success of the business, including location, the marketing mix and the business plan.
• Topic 1.5 Understanding external influences on business – students are introduced to a range of factors, many of which are outside of the immediate control of the business, such as stakeholders, technology, legislation and the economy. Students will explore how businesses respond to these influences.

In Year 11 students will learn about:

• Topic 2.1 Growing the business – students are introduced to methods of growth and how and why business aims and objectives change as businesses evolve. The impact of globalisation and the ethical and environmental questions facing businesses are explored.
• Topic 2.2 Making marketing decisions – students will explore how each element of the marketing mix is managed and used to inform and make business decisions in a competitive marketplace.
• Topic 2.3 Making operational decisions – this topic focuses on meeting customer needs through the design, supply, quality and sales decisions a business makes.
• Topic 2.4 Making financial decisions – students will explore the tools a business has to support financial decision making, including ratio analysis and the use and limitation of a range of financial information.
• Topic 2.5 Making human resource decisions – growing a business means that decisions relating to organisational structure, recruitment, training and motivation need to be made to influence business activity. These aspects are considered in this final topic.

Business Studies at Sixth Form

For more information on the content of either Business Studies or Economics at Key Stage 5, please visit our Sixth Form Course Guide.

Where can Business take me?

Studying Business opens up many opportunities in the future, all job roles require some Business knowledge. Here are a few areas that you could work in: Business management, sales and marketing, advertising, operations, people management, accounting, banking, investment, financial services, law, politics, public relations, retail management, a wide range of roles within the public sector, business owner, and many more.