Business Studies
Introduction
There can be few careers where business knowledge would not be useful. Studying business can lay a foundation of key transferable skills to use in the workplace and make you a valuable asset to firms from any industry.
With a strong knowledge of business theories and concepts, pupils in this subject can be highly employable in areas such as advertising, banking, finance, personnel management and logistics, in both public and private sectors.
This course provides a broad overview of the economy and how the commercial world operates. It develops key attributes sought by employers such as critical thinking, analytical skills and evaluative judgement, as well as numeracy and the ability to research and interpret business data.
Lower School
This subject is not offered in the Lower School.
Middle School
Business Studies
Board: AQA 8132
GCSE business studies is an interesting and relevant course which will give pupils the opportunity to explore real business issues and how businesses work. Pupils will consider the practical application of business concepts. All units provide opportunities to explore theories and concepts in the most relevant way, through the context of events in the business and economic world. Knowledge and skills gained from this specification will provide students with a firm foundation for further study.
Subject Content:
Pupils apply their knowledge and understanding to different business contexts ranging from small enterprises to large multinationals and business operating in local, national and global contexts. Pupils develop an understanding of how these contexts impact on business behaviour.
Senior School
Business Studies
Board: AQA 7132
This A Level business course introduces you to all you need to know about working in business, providing a solid foundation for further study.
With a focus on helping you to become a good decision maker, you will learn essential managerial skills, alongside techniques to help you become an analytical problem solver. These skills are all highly sought after and valued in a wide range of careers.
Trips to Visit Businesses
Putting business into a practical context is a very important way of raising pupil awareness of the relevance of the subject and the importance of the business sector to all our lives. Several trips, revision days, competitions and speakers from industry are arranged each year and are closely linked to the demands of the syllabus and provide an excellent opportunity for our pupils to network and importantly, develop qualities of responsibility, leadership and self-discipline.
Further study and career opportunities
If you would like to study business, finance or management at university, A Level Business provides an excellent foundation. The skills you learn are transferable across a broad range of subjects and careers.
Sixth Form
A Level
Who can study Business Studies?
There can be few careers where business knowledge would not be beneficial. Studying business can lay a foundation of key transferable skills. Pupils will develop the knowledge and skills needed to analyse data, think critically about issues and make informed decisions; all skills that are needed for further study and employment. No previous study of business at GCSE is required.
The Course
Examination Board: AQA (7132)
Pupils of this course study business in a variety of contexts (eg large/small, UK focused/global, service/manufacturing) and consider:
- The importance of the context of business in relation to decision making.
- The interrelated nature of business activities and how they affect competitiveness.
- The competitive environment and the markets in which businesses operate.
- The influences on functional decisions and plans including ethical and environmental issues.
- The factors that might determine whether a decision is successful, eg the quality of data and the degree of uncertainty.
- How technology is changing the way decisions are made and how businesses operate and compete.
- The impact on stakeholders of functional decisions and their response to such decisions.
- Use of qualitative and quantitative data in decision making (including the interpretation of index numbers and calculations such as ratios and percentages).
Taking a holistic approach to the subject, demonstrates the interrelated nature of business using business models, theories and techniques to support analysis of contemporary business issues and situations to provide a dynamic specification. The content is designed to engage students through topics and issues that are relevant in today's society – they will study key contemporary developments such as digital technology and business ethics, and globalisation is covered throughout the topics.
The A Level specification is designed to be taken over two years with all assessments taken at the end of the course. Pupils must complete all exams in May/June in a single year.
A Level
Assessment:
The AQA Business Studies paper consists of three externally examined papers. Before the qualification can be awarded, pupils must undertake all the assessments.
Subject content:
- What is a business?
- Managers, leadership and decision making.
- Decision making to improve marketing.
- Decision making to improve operational performance.
- Decision making to improve financial performance.
- Decision making to improve human resource performance.
- Choosing strategic direction.
- Strategic methods: how to pursue strategies.
- Managing strategic change.
Paper 1: Business 1
Written exam: 2 hours (100 marks)
33.3% of A Level
Three compulsory sections:
- Section A has 15 multiple choice questions (15 marks)
- Section B has short answer questions (35 marks)
- Sections C and D have two essay questions (worth 25 marks each)
Paper 1 will assess all of the above.
Paper 2: Business 2
Written exam: 2 hours (100 marks)
33.3% of A Level
Three data response compulsory questions worth approximately 33 marks each and made up of three or four part questions.
Paper 2 will assess all of the above.
Paper 3: Business 3
Written exam: 2 hours (100 marks)
33.3% of A Level
One compulsory case study followed by approximately six questions.
Paper 3 will assess all of the above.
BTEC Level 3 Business
National Extended Certificate
Who can study BTEC Business?
The Extended Certificate is for learners who are interested in learning about the business sector alongside other fields of study, with a view to progressing to a wide range of higher education courses, not necessarily in business-related subjects.
It is designed to be taken as part of a programme of study that includes other appropriate BTEC Nationals or A Levels.
Pupils will develop knowledge and vocational skills needed for further study and employment.
You will need to be reasonably numerate as we do accounts, cash flow projections and statistical methods of forecasting among other things. GCSE in maths should suffice, preferably at grade 4 or above.
No previous study of business at GCSE is required.
Business is a multi-disciplinary course that uses lots of different themes and topics to teach you about how business works. We study marketing, finance, human resource management and influences of the wider world. It is different from A Level business as it is more vocational in nature and that you will be more involved in assessed project work.
The high practical element of the course and the fact that most homework is focused on completing coursework may be a relief from essay writing or lots of note taking from text books.
- You can excel by using cross over skills from other subjects. If you are good at mathematics, English, geography, science or ICT, you will enjoy the challenge of BTEC Level 3 Extended Certificate in Business.
- It equips pupils with some of the essential skills to be successful in the world of work either in a managerial role or when being managed.
THE COURSE
Examination Board: Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Business
(360 GLH) 601/7159/5
Equivalent in size to one A Level.
4 units are studied of which 3 are mandatory (Units 1, 2 and 3) and 2 are external (Unit 2 and 3)
Mandatory content (83%)
External assessment (58%)
The 4 units pupils take are Unit 1 (Exploring Business), Unit 2 (Developing a Marketing Campaign), Unit 3 (Personal and Business Finance) and Unit 8 (Recruitment and Selection Process)
To achieve any qualification grade, learners must:
- Complete and have an outcome (Distinction, Merit, Pass, Near Pass or Unclassified) for all units with a valid combination
- Achieve the required units at pass or above
- Achieve the minimum number of points at a grade threshold
Points are given for each grade. Overall points after 4 units:
To get a D* is 90 points, D is 74 points, M is 52 points, P is 36 points.
Unit 1 Exploring Business
Internal Assessment
This unit is internally assessed and subject to external standards verification. This means that the teacher sets and assesses the assignments that provide the final summative assessment of each unit, using the examples and support that Pearson provides.
In line with the requirements and guidance for internal assessment, the teacher selects the most appropriate assessment styles according to the learning set out in the unit. This ensures that learners are assessed styles according to the learning set out in the unit. This ensures that learners are assessed using a variety of styles to help them develop a broad range of transferable skills.
Learners could be given opportunities to:
- Write up findings of their own research
- Use case studies to explore complex or unfamiliar situations
- Carry out projects for which they have choice over the direction and outcomes
- Demonstrate practical and technical skills using appropriate presentations and role plays
Points available for internal units.
Unit 1 Exploring Business has 90 Guided learning hours and points are based on the grade achieved
U – 0
Pass – 9
Merit – 15
Distinction – 24
Subject Content:
In this introductory unit, learners study the purposes of different businesses, their structure, the effect of the external environment, and how they need to be dynamic and innovate to survive.
Unit 2 Developing a Marketing Campaign
External Assessment
This unit is assessed under supervised conditions. Part A is released two weeks before Part B is scheduled for learners to carry out research. Part B is a supervised assessment of three hours taken in a single session during the two-day period timetabled by Pearson. The assessment is set and marked by Pearson. The number of marks for the unit is 70. The assessment availability is twice a year in December/January and May/June. Sample assessment materials will be available to help centres prepare learners for assessment. Unit 2 has 90 guided learning hours and points are based on the grade achieved.
U – 0
Near Pass – 6
Pass – 9
Merit – 15
Distinction – 24
Subject Content:
Introduction to the principles and purposes of marketing that underpin the creation of a rationale for a marketing campaign.
Unit 3 Personal and Business Finance
External Assessment
This unit is assessed by a written examination set by Pearson. The examination will be two hours in length. The number of marks for the examination is 100. (Section A contains questions on the personal finance unit content and approximately one-third of the marks, and Section B contains questions on the business finance unit content and approximately two-thirds of the marks). The assessment availability is twice a year in January and May/June. Sample assessment materials will be available to help centres prepare learners for assessment. Unit 3 has 120 guided learning hours and points are based on the grade achieved. Points available for external units:
U – 0
Near Pass – 8
Pass – 12
Merit – 20
Distinction – 32
Subject Content:
Understand the importance of managing personal finance, explore the personal finance sector, understand the purpose of accounting, select and evaluate different sources of business finance and complete statements of comprehensive income and financial position and evaluate a business's performance.
Unit 8 Recruitment and Selection Process
Internal Assessment
This unit is internally assessed and subject to external standards verification. This means that the teacher sets and assesses the assignments that provide the final summative assessment of each unit, using the examples and support that Pearson provides.
In line with the requirements and guidance for internal assessment, the teacher selects the most appropriate assessment styles according to the learning set out in the unit. This ensures that learners are assessed using a variety of styles to help them develop a broad range of transferable skills.
Learners could be given opportunities to:
- Write up the findings of their own research
- Use case studies to explore complex or unfamiliar situations
- Carry out projects for which they have choice over the direction and outcomes
- Demonstrate practical and technical skills using appropriate presentations and role plays
Unit 8 has 60 guided learning hours and points are based on the grade achieved.
U – 0
Pass – 6
Merit – 10
Distinction – 16
Subject content:
Examine how effective recruitment and selection contribute to business success and undertake recruitment activity to demonstrate the processes leading to a successful job offer.