Business

Head of Faculty: Mrs L Wiles

The Department is staffed with very experienced and passionate Business qualified teachers. We have an excellent record of results in Key Stage 5 and our students are very positive about the subject. Business has its own suite of classrooms which are well resourced with both digital and print resources.

Why study this course?

Regardless as to the career path you will eventually choose - you will work within a business. Therefore, having an understanding of how a business works is critical to your success. This course provides you with an in depth understanding of how businesses of all sizes work and the decisions that have to be made. One day it may be you making those decisions!

Aims of the course

Central to this course is developing the knowledge and understanding of the key aspects of business decision-making and the impacts these have on the business and its stakeholders. The course encourages students to develop a critical understanding of organisations and their ability to meet society’s needs and wants. The course generates enterprising and creative approaches to business opportunities, problems and issues. Students become aware of the ethical dilemmas and responsibilities faced by organisations and individuals and will take a more strategic view of business opportunities, problems and issues.

A level

Course outline

A Level Business takes the student on a journey from discovering what skills and qualities an entrepreneur needs in order to succeed to what type of business ownership is most appropriate and how the functions of that business will operate. Understanding the external environment is also covered as well as how global businesses differ from local or national businesses.

There are 3 equally weighted external exam papers at the end of the course that assess four themes.

Theme 1: Markets, Consumers and Firms: In this theme, you will be introduced to the market, explore the marketing and people functions, investigate entrepreneurs and business start-ups. You will need to build upon the knowledge, skills and understanding developed in this theme when studying Theme 4, making connections across these two themes in Paper 1, and across Themes 1, 2, 3 and 4 in Paper 3. Therefore, you will need to apply your knowledge and understanding to both familiar and unfamiliar contexts in the assessments and demonstrate an awareness of current business issues.

This theme enables you to understand how businesses identify opportunities and to explore how businesses focus on developing a competitive advantage through interacting with customers. You will develop an understanding of how businesses need to adapt their marketing to operate in a dynamic business environment. This theme also considers people, exploring how businesses recruit, train, organise and motivate employees, as well as the role of enterprising individuals and leaders.

You must investigate different types and sizes of organisation in various business sectors and environments, and in local, national and global contexts.

To develop your knowledge, skills and understanding in business, you need to have acquired competence in quantitative skills that are relevant to and applied in the context of this theme

Assessment: External Assessment in Paper 1 and Paper 4 in Year 13

Theme 2: Managing Business Objectives : In this theme, you will explore the finance and operations functions, and investigate external influences on business. You will need to build upon the knowledge, skills and understanding developed in this theme when studying Theme 3, making connections across these two themes in Paper 2, and across Themes 1, 2, 3 and 4 in Paper 3. Therefore, you will need to apply your knowledge and understanding to both familiar and unfamiliar contexts in the assessments and demonstrate an awareness of current business issues. This theme enables you to develop an understanding of raising and managing finance, and measuring business performance. The theme outlines the importance of using resources efficiently within a business to ensure that goods or services can be delivered effectively and efficiently, and to a high quality.

You will also consider the external influences that have an impact on businesses, including economic and legal factors. You must investigate different types and sizes of organisation in various business sectors and environments, and in local, national and global contexts.

To develop their knowledge, skills and understanding in business, students need to have acquired competence in quantitative skills that are relevant to and applied in the context of this theme

Assessment: External Assessment in Paper 2 and 3 in Year 13

Theme 3: Managing Business Objectives : In this theme, you will develop your understanding of the concepts introduced in Theme 2 and explore influences on business strategy and decision-making. You will need to build upon the knowledge, skills and understanding developed in Theme 2 in this theme, making connections across these two themes in Paper 2, and across Themes 1, 2, 3 and 4 in Paper 3. Once again, you will need to apply your knowledge and understanding to both familiar and unfamiliar contexts in the assessments and demonstrate an awareness of current business issues. This theme moves from functions to strategy, enabling you to develop your understanding of the core concepts and to take a strategic view of business opportunities and issues. You will analyse corporate objectives and strategy against financial and non-financial performance measures and how businesses grow, and develop an understanding of the impact of external influences.

The theme covers the causes and effects of change and how businesses mitigate risk and uncertainty. You must investigate different types and sizes of organisation in various business sectors and environments, and in local, national and global contexts.

To develop your knowledge, skills and understanding in business, students need to have acquired competence in quantitative skills that are relevant to and applied in the context of this theme

Assessment: External Assessment in Paper 2 and 3 in Year 13

Theme 4: Global Business : In this theme, you will develop your understanding of the concepts introduced in Theme 1 and activity in a global context. You will need to build upon the knowledge, skills and understanding developed in Theme 1 in this theme, making connections across these two themes in Paper 1, and across Themes 1, 2, 3 and 4 in Paper 3. Once again, you will need to apply your knowledge and understanding to both familiar and unfamiliar contexts in the assessments and demonstrate an awareness of current business issues.

You will investigate businesses that trade on a global scale and explore their reasons for doing so. You will develop an understanding of the globally competitive environment and consider the ethical and moral dimensions of global business activities. You must investigate different types and sizes of organisation in various business sectors and environments, and in local, national and global contexts.

To develop your knowledge, skills and understanding in business, you will need to have acquired competence in quantitative skills that are relevant to and applied in the context of this theme

Assessment: Assessment in Paper 1 and 3 in Year 13

Grade 4 in Business (if studied at Key Stage 4) in addition to our entry requirements of five grade 4 at GCSE including Maths / English

Universities welcome this subject for application to study a wide range of degrees such as Business, Accounting, Economics, Law and Management Studies.