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St Thomas More Catholic Secondary School

St Thomas More
Catholic Secondary School

Business Studies

Examination Board

AQA   

Entry Requirements

Grade 6 in GCSE English and Mathematics
If Business was studied at GCSE, then a Grade B would be required (but you do not have to have studied Business before).

Why study Business Studies?

  • Dynamic and Engaging Content
  • Developed with Universities
  • Models, theories and techniques used to support analysis of contemporary business issues and situations
  • Modern topics such as digital technology, business ethics and globalisation
  • Real life skills to aid further study and employment
  • Business knowledge
  • Skills needed to analyse data
  • Critical thinking about issues
  • Make informed decisions

Course Content

AS & A Level

What is business?

  • Managers, leadership and decision making
  • Decision making to improve marketing performance
  • Decision making to improve operational performance
  • Decision making to improve financial performance
  • Decision making to improve human resource performance

A Level only

  • Analysing the strategic position of a business
  • Choosing strategic direction
  • Strategic methods: how to pursue strategies
  • Managing strategic change

Assessment:

Written examinations comprising Multiple Choice Questions, Shorter Answer Questions, Essay questions and Questions involving Data Response Stimuli and Case Studies.

Further Course Information

www.aqa.org.uk

BTEC Business Extended Certificate (Level 3) Equivalent to one A Level

Examination Board

Pearson

Entry Requirements

4 grades in English and Maths.

Why study BTEC Business?

The main purpose of this qualification is to allow the learners to develop the core specialist knowledge, understanding and skills, including the business environment and marketing, required by the sector.  It also provides a well-established route into a variety of specialist Higher Education courses and is fully recognised by Universities.

Course Content

Compulsory Units:

Unit 1: Exploring Business
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 innovative to survive.

Unit 2: Developing a Marketing Campaign
In this unit learners will gain skills relating to and an understanding of how a marketing campaign is developed.

Assessment

YEAR 12 (360 guided learning hours)
Unit 1: Exploring Business (90 guided learning hours)
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 innovative to survive.

Unit 2: Developing a Marketing Campaign (90 guided learning hours)
In this unit learners will gain skills relating to and an understanding of how a marketing campaign is developed.

YEAR 13(360 guided learning hours)
Unit 3: Personal and Business Finance (120 guided learning hours)

Learners study the purpose and importance of personal and business finance. They will develop the skills and knowledge needed to understand, analyse and prepare financial information.

Unit 8: Recruitment and Selection Process (60 guided learning hours)
Learners explore how the recruitment process is carried out in a business. The unit gives them the opportunity to participate in selection interviews and review their performance.

Further Course Information

Please watch the video located at:

http://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/btec-nationals/business-2016.html

Future Uses

* Employment in the business sector
* Further/Higher Education courses

BTEC Business Diploma (Level 3) Equivalent to 2 A Levels

Examination Board

Pearson

Entry Requirements

GCSE Grade 4 in English and Maths.

Why study BTEC Business?

The Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Business is an Applied General qualification. It is Post-16 learners who want to continue their education through applied learning and who aim to progress to higher education and ultimately to employment in the business sector.

Course Content

YEAR 12
Unit 1: Exploring Business (90 guided learning hours)
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 innovative to survive.

Unit 2: Developing a Marketing Campaign (90 guided learning hours)
In this unit learners will gain skills relating to and an understanding of how a marketing campaign is developed.

Unit 4: Managing an Event (60 guided learning hours)

Learners will work as part of a small group to plan, co-ordinate and manage a business or social

enterprise event and evaluate the skills gained.

Unit 8: Recruitment and Selection Process (60 guided learning hours)
Learners explore how the recruitment process is carried out in a business. The unit gives them the opportunity to participate in selection interviews and review their performance.

YEAR 13 (some teaching will begin in Year 12)
Unit 3: Personal and Business Finance (120 guided learning hours)

Learners study the purpose and importance of personal and business finance. They will develop the skills and knowledge needed to understand, analyse and prepare financial information.

Unit 5: International Business (90 guided learning hours)

Learners study how UK businesses develop strategies to trade globally. Learners will also consider the factors that influence the implementation of these strategies.

Unit 6: Principles of Management (120 guided learning hours)
This unit enables learners to understand how the role of management and leadership in the workplace contributes towards business success.

Unit 22: Market Research (60 guided learning hours)

Learners examine the different aspects of market research used by businesses. They will undertake a research project, interpret their findings and provide a report.

Assessment

Unit 1: Assignment - Set and marked internally

Unit 2: Task - Set and marked by Pearson

Unit 3: Written Exam - Set and marked by Pearson

Unit 4: Assignment - Set and marked internally

Unit 5: Assignment - Set and marked internally

Unit 6: Task - Set and marked by Pearson

Unit 8: Assignment - Set and marked internally

Unit 22: Assignment - Set and marked internally

Further Course Information:

Please watch the video located at:

http://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/btec-nationals/business-2016.html

Certificate in Financial Studies (CeFS)

What is it?

This is a level 3 course – equivalent to AS level. Learners are encouraged to become responsible borrowers, sensible savers, and have an appreciation of the need for financial planning throughout their life.  Its purpose is to prepare students for further study through the development of the core skills of critical analysis and evaluation, synthesis, verbal communication (through classroom discussion) and written communication.

Who is it for?

Year 13 students

  • Pupils interested in a career in finance
  • Some Year 13 pupils who do not have enough UCAS points

What will you be learning?

Two mandatory units:

  • Unit 1 – Financial Capability for the Immediate and Short Term
  • Unit 2 – Financial Capability for the Medium and Long Term (FCML)

How will you be examined?

Both units will be assessed by paper-based examination or via the LIBF e-test electronic testing system.

Each unit is assessed through a combination of Multiple Choice Questions (Part A) and a written paper (Part B).

A total of 200 marks are available from both units comprising 100 marks per unit.

  • Part A: 35 multiple choice questions in a 45-minute examination.
  • Part B: pre-release case study requiring essay responses to 5 questions in a 105-minute examination.

Part B will also assess spelling, punctuation and grammar (SPAG) through the essay responses.

For more information

please visit the London Institute of Banking & Finance website:

http://www.libf.ac.uk/study/financial-capability/qualifications/cefs---certificate-in-financial-studies