Business Studies
Business Studies is offered from Year 10 and therefore no prior knowledge of the subject is assumed or required. However, to enjoy this course, students must have a lively and enquiring mind, an interest in finding out about business and finance and an ability to communicate their ideas effectively.
GCSE
Business Studies GCSE helps students to acquire the understanding, knowledge and skills relevant to the changing world of work. It appeals to those who enjoy keeping up with what is going on in the world of business and finance, want to develop as a commercially minded and enterprising individual and appreciate the importance of being a responsible consumer, citizen and employee.
The course aims to develop a critical understanding of all aspects of business and how it operates, addressing questions such as:
- How are businesses owned, organised and controlled?
- What are, or should be, the aims and objectives of business?
- How can people in business best be managed, developed and motivated?
- How can products be made most efficiently and sold most effectively?
- What are the essential components of successful financial management?
- How can products be successfully marketed and sold to consumers?
Module 1 is ‘Investigating Small Business’, while Module 2 is entitled ‘Building a Business’.
The course is assessed through two 90-minute written examinations with a mixture of multiple choice, short answer and extended writing questions.
A-Level
A-Level Business investigates the nature and management of organisations including small private firms, large public companies and not-for-profit concerns.
The course has been designed to provide students with a critical understanding of the internal functions of contemporary organisations of all types and the dynamic external environment within which businesses operate. The principles of management and decision-making are examined and applied to case studies, demonstrating how organisations face a number of interrelated problems.
The A-Level Business specification requires no previous knowledge of GCSE Business and encourages students to follow business developments and think critically about contemporary business issues.
Much of the assessment material is based on real business situations, examining and thinking critically about them to give students a thorough grounding in what really matters in modern businesses. Students are introduced to the challenges and issues involved in a business such as research and planning, as well as the factors that determine success.
The course develops skills such as interpreting data, developing an analytical argument and making judgements based on available evidence, which will help them in other A-Level subjects and at university. By the end of the course, students should have a good understanding of the skills needed for successful business management and will be familiar with problem solving techniques.
The examination consists of three written papers, each two hours long. Questions range from multiple choice questions, short answer questions, data response questions to questions based on case study scenarios.
A-Level Business can stimulate higher education study in related fields of Business Management and Economics. It can also be linked with another subject to provide a wide range of alternatives, e.g. marketing combined with a modern foreign language.
The department has strong links within industry, local universities and their Business Schools. Our strong alumni network provides career development opportunities and practical support and advice to make the world of business come alive.<
