In year 9, students complete the Real Business Challenge, which is a combination of both theory and practical, resulting in students working in groups to produce a product and presentation based around a realistic, vocational brief. A final presentation will be presented to the rest of the class.
Real Business Challenge content: Mission statements, aims and objectives Roles and responsibilities Market research, both primary and secondary Marketing Mix – Product, Price, Promotion and Place Production Processes – Job, Batch and Flow Costs, revenues and profits Factors of Production Business Ownership Entrepreneurial skills and characteristics
Our specification requires students to draw on the knowledge and understanding to use business terminology to identify and explain business activity. Students will learn to apply business concepts to familiar and unfamiliar contexts and develop problem solving and decision making skills relevant to business. Students will investigate, analyse and evaluate business opportunities and issues and make justified decisions using both qualitative and quantitative data including its selection, interpretation, analysis and evaluation, and the application of appropriate quantitative skills.
Exam Board: AQA
Qualification Title: Business
Qualification Specification Code: 8132
Qualification Webpage: Click here to visit the AQA webpage for the specification.
The GCSE in Business will give learners a real, in-depth understanding of how the business world works. They will see how a business works holistically, using relevant and up to date real life examples to help explain and apply the knowledge. Students will also gain experience of team working skills, research skills, creativity and other employability skills that will prepare the students for taking Business in sixth form or moving into an apprenticeship.
Skills that you will need, or that you will be required to develop, include:
• Quantitative and qualitative skills including using and interpreting data.
• Develop as enterprising individuals with the ability to think commercially and creatively.
• Develop as effective and independent students, and as critical and reflective thinkers with enquiring minds.
• Use an enquiring, critical approach to make informed judgements.
• Investigate and analyse real business opportunities and issues to construct well-argued, well evidenced, balanced and structured arguments.
Overall Aims:
The course will be studied over a two year period and will cover the following content:
• Business in the Real Worl
• Influences on Business
• Business Operations
• Human Resources
• Marketing
• Finance
Paper 1 - Influences of operations and HRM on business activity.
Written Exam – 1 hour 45 mins
50% of total assessment
Section A has multiple choice questions and short answer questions worth 20 marks, section B has one case study / data response stimuli with questions worth approximately 34 marks and section C has one case study/data response stimuli with questions worth approximately 36 marks.
Paper 2 – Influences of marketing and finance on business activity
Written Exam – 1 hour 45 mins
50% of total assessment
Section A has multiple choice questions and short answer questions worth 20 marks, section B has one case study / data response stimuli with questions worth approximately 34 marks and section C has one case study/data response stimuli with questions worth approximately 36 marks.
Entrepreneur / Company founder
Business related degrees in Law, Sociology, Banking, Accounting and Finance
Government or local council
Retai
Construction
Environmental Science
s
Marketing and Advertising, especially digital
Sales
Education
Project Manager
A-level Business follows on from GCSE Business, although GCSE Business is not a requirement for this course. The course aims to develop an enthusiasm for studying Business and, through the themes studied, gives the students a holistic understanding of business in a range of contexts. Students will develop a critical understanding of organisations and their ability to meet society’s needs and wants, and understand that business behaviour can be studied from a range of perspectives. Students will get the opportunity to generate enterprising and creative approaches to business opportunities, problems and issues and be aware of the ethical dilemmas and responsibilities faced by organisations and individuals. There is a quantitative element to the course too and students will apply numerical skills in a range of business contexts.
To provide a successful curriculum suited to our student intake profile, balancing core learning with guided, differentiated pathways for sub-groups or individuals which inspire and engage students whilst successfully preparing them for progression at age 18 and future life as learners, employers and citizens.
To give the students a real world understanding of the use of technology in the wider world and to provide a theoretical level of knowledge in the history and inner workings of key aspects of the computer. To cultivate creative and dynamic problem solvers, both when using technology and in general, by developing the key skills of computational thinking.
To give students a deep understanding and engage learners to enhance their awareness of current affairs and key Economic and Business topics to enrich and develop their cultural capital and prepare them for a rapidly changing external environment. To equip students with the analytical and evaluative skills required to form judgments and opinions about why key decisions are taken by the government and the impact on the world around us. We want learners to demonstrate that they can identify and use effectively, in an integrated way, an appropriate selection of skills, techniques, concepts, theories and knowledge to help them prepare for progression to employment, apprentices and further education.
Exam Board: Edexcel Pearson
Qualification Title: Business Studies
Qualification Specification Code: 9BS0
Qualification Webpage: Click here to visit the Edexcel Pearson webpage for the specification.
Standard Sixth Form entry requirements
Studying Business A Level can lead you onto a number of business related degrees in areas such as Economics, Business Law, Marketing, Accounting and Finance, HR, Business Management, Business Analytics, Business Administration, Enterprise and Entrepreneurship, Information Technology, Hospitality and Travel and Tourism. Studying Business at A Level can gain you specific skills such as analytical ability, communication skills, teamwork, understanding figures, problem solving, organisation, ability to think logically, presentation skills, report writing skills and literacy. One of your options is to join a scheme with one of the big graduate recruiters; these will often provide professional training as well as experience and a decent salary. You could also consider employment or apprenticeships in the following areas; Consulting, Teaching, Advertising, Investment Banking, Retail Banking, Retail Buying, Marketing and Digital Marketing, HR, Consumer Products, Retail Management, Sales, Logistics.
Mrs Downs
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