Details below on the GCSE and A Level Business studies offered.
Year 10
Curriculum Intention: The curriculum intention in year 10 is to introduce small business and an understanding of how they operate to make them successful. Curriculum intention to open business opportunities so the diverse group of learners can see economic growth within the context and can be inspired to run and manage their own businesses in the future. To develop knowledge learners need to access subject key terms which are specific to the subject and enable students to excel in the external examinations. This course also enables learners from a diverse background to develop in their communities. The use of ‘Dragons Den’ and ‘The Apprentice’ allows them to be inspired by international successful role models which also helps with intake onto the GCSE course. Theme 1: Investigating small business Theme 1 concentrates on the key business concepts, issues and skills involved in starting and running a small business. It provides a framework for students to explore core concepts through the lens of an entrepreneur setting up a business. In this theme, students will be introduced to local and national business contexts and will develop an understanding of how these contexts impact business behaviour and decisions. Local contexts refer specifically to small businesses or those operating in a single UK location and national contexts relate to businesses operating in more than one location or across the UK. Paper 1 is worth 50% of the final grade and is on theme 1. |
Curriculum Implementation:
Autumn |
Spring |
Summer |
Sept 2nd - Oct 14th 1.1: Enterprise and entrepreneurship 1.2 Spotting a business opportunity |
Jan 6th – 10th Feb 1.4: Making the business effective
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20th April – 18th May Enterprise Day Recapping Theme 1
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Half term |
Half term |
Half term |
Oct 28th – Dec 16th 1.3: Putting a business idea into practice |
24th Feb – 30th March 1.5: Understanding external influences on business |
1st June – 13th July Business Trip Introduction of Theme 2 |
Christmas Holidays |
Easter Holidays |
Summer Holidays |
Outcomes: Students moving from 4 to 5 and above for grades Ability to relate theory to context Confidence in Theme 1 Opening to business success in the future
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Employability skills: Through studying this qualification students will: ● apply knowledge and understanding to different business contexts. These include businesses ranging from small enterprises to large multinationals and businesses operating in local, national and global contexts ● develop an understanding of how these contexts impact on business behaviour ● use business terminology to identify and explain business activity ● apply business concepts to familiar and unfamiliar contexts. Students will also create CVs ready for employment and look at customer service as a topic |
Year 11
Curriculum Intention: The curriculum intention in year 11 is to develop understanding of how small businesses then grow into larger businesses (Multinational companies) and the need to make strategic actions in relation to human resources, finance and operations. The curriculum intention is to develop learner’s knowledge and concept of larger international businesses. This helps learners gain a vision of successful companies that they could end up working in; in departments such as accounting, law, management, recruitment and sales. This course enables learners to develop key communication skills amongst large businesses because there is an emphasis on stakeholder relationships. Theme 2: Building a business Theme 2 examines how a business develops beyond the start-up phase. It focuses on the key business concepts, issues and decisions used to grow a business, with emphasis on aspects of marketing, operations, finance and human resources. Theme 2 also considers the impact of the wider world on the decisions a business makes as it grows. In this theme, students will be introduced to national and global business contexts and will develop an understanding of how these contexts impact business behaviour and decisions. National contexts build on those in Theme 1 and relate to businesses operating in more than one location or across the UK. Global contexts relate to non-UK or transnational businesses. Students must develop an understanding of the interdependent nature of business activity through interactions between business operations, finance, marketing and human resources, as well as the relationship between the business and the environment in which it operates. Students must understand how these functional areas influence business activity and how interdependencies and relationships between them underpin business decisions. Theme 2 is 50% of the final grade and content for Paper 2. |
Curriculum Implementation:
Autumn |
Spring |
Summer |
Sept 2nd - Oct 14th 2.1 Growing the business 2.2 Making marketing decisions |
Jan 6th – 10th Feb 2.4 Making financial decisions |
20th April – 18th May Revision of Theme 1 and 2 |
Half term |
Half term |
Half term |
Oct 28th – Dec 16th 2.3 Making operational decisions |
24th Feb – 30th March 2.5 Making human resource decisions |
1st June – 13th July |
Christmas Holidays |
Easter Holidays |
Summer Holidays |
Outcomes: End of unit tests Assessment folders Ability to relate theory with context Confidence in Theme 1 and 2 Confidence in answering 9 and 12 mark questions Foster ambition to be working for international businesses To do Edexcel A level Business To understand customer service and develop sales skills |
Employability skills: Through studying this qualification students will: ● apply knowledge and understanding to different business contexts. These include businesses ranging from small enterprises to large multinationals and businesses operating in local, national and global contexts ● develop an understanding of how these contexts impact on business behaviour ● use business terminology to identify and explain business activity ● apply business concepts to familiar and unfamiliar contexts. Students will also create CVs ready for employment and look at customer service as a topic. |
Year 12
Curriculum Intention: Learners are given the opportunity to do A level business as it is 100% exams and this suits learners better than coursework. The SOW has been put together as Theme 1 and 2 offers recap of GCSE content but goes deeper Exam skills and command words are embedded from the start through homework’s and assessments Theme 2 must be taught before Theme 3 as prior knowledge is essential Refresher content also allows for building of skills with prior knowledge The development from GCSE to A level is that students are seeing business from a strategic level, which involves finance, resource management and people in business. The business is not seen as isolated but external factors are also considered and their impacts on the businesses. Students will also look at current affairs such as ‘BREXIT’ and the current economy. This course involves techniques to manage people which was not so detailed at GCSE. |
Curriculum Implementation:
Autumn |
Spring |
Summer |
Sept 2nd - Oct 14th Theme 1.1- Meeting Customer Needs Theme 2.1- Raising Finance |
Jan 6th – 10th Feb Theme 1.3-Marketing Mix and Strategy Theme 2.3- Managing Finance |
20th April – 18th May Theme 1.5- Entrepreneurs and Leaders Theme 2.5- External Influences |
Half term |
Half term |
Half term |
Oct 28th – Dec 16th Theme 1.2- The Market Theme 2.2- Financial Planning |
24th Feb – 30th March Theme 1.4- Managing People Theme 2.4-Resource Management |
1st June – 13th July Revision and start theme 3 |
Christmas Holidays |
Easter Holidays |
Summer Holidays |
Outcomes: Increase in overall analysis and evaluation marks Homework and in class assessments- marks as well as grades |
Employability skills: Every aspect fits into industry skills. Also develops wider skills such as commercial acumen, organisation, time management. |
Year 13
Curriculum Intention: Themes in order and link back to prior content These themes allow for synoptic and holistic nature of paper 3 where themes 1 and 2 have been taught already Case study launch in December allows us to gear more tailored learning. The themes in year 13 are more global businesses, linked to the media which allows the opportunity to develop context related to the ‘real world’. It also enables learners to think critically and evaluate economics of different countries worldwide. Business studies in year 13 offers a springboard to the study of business at university.
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Curriculum Implementation:
Autumn |
Spring |
Summer |
Sept 2nd - Oct 14th Theme 3.1 objectives and Strategy Theme 3.2 Business Growth Theme 3.3 Decision Making Techniques |
Jan 6th – 10th Feb Theme 3.6- Managing Change Theme 4.1 Globalisation Theme 4.2 Global Markets |
20th April – 18th May
Revision Case study Practice papers |
Half term |
Half term |
Half term |
Oct 28th – Dec 16th Theme 3.3 Decision Making Techniques Theme 3.4- Influences on Business Decisions Theme 3.5- Assessing Competitiveness |
24th Feb – 30th March Theme 4.3- Global Marketing Theme 4.4- Global Industries Exam Case Study work |
1st June – 13th July
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Christmas Holidays |
Easter Holidays |
Summer Holidays |
Outcomes: Increase in overall analysis and evaluation marks Homework and in class assessments- marks as well as grades Holistic nature of exam answers Use of application building To foster opportunities to study business at university |
Employability skills: Every aspect fits into industry skills. Also develops wider skills such as commercial acumen, organisation, time management. |