Business Studies

Introduction

Business Studies is a popular subject for students at both Key Stage 4 and 5.

The programmes offered, give pupils the chance to gain a practical insight into the ways in which businesses work and the issues and constraints that businesses face from both within and outside of the organisation.

Pupils are given the opportunity to investigate businesses at both a local and national level and apply business theory to given situations. This is an exciting subject area for students which can broaden their skills set and provide them with opportunities to debate current issues facing businesses.

Contact details

Please contact the Head of Department for more information. A full teaching staff list can be found under 'About Us' 'Staff and Governance'.

Head of Department: Ms R Amir     Email: R.Amir@ccfplus.com

What your child will be learning (curriculum mapping)

To view the Curriculum Overview document, please click here.

To view the modules studied each term, please click here. 

Aims and enrichment

Aims

The aim of the Business curriculum is to equip students with the appropriate knowledge and skills needed to become outstanding employees or employers. We strive to create the entrepreneurs of the future, by preparing our students for an ever changing business environment so that they engage in business activity with confidence and competence.

The courses offered help pupils develop a wide range of transferable skills such as:

• Team working
• Communication skills
• Problem-solving
• Report writing skills
• The ability to collect and analyse both qualitative and quantitative data using appropriate formats
• The experience of using a wide range of IT applications

Enrichment

Our Year 12 students take part in the “Brent Cross Challenge” every year where students compete with other schools by pitching their ideas in relation to a specific challenge for an assigned outlet within Brent Cross.

Dragon’s Den during MyZone allows students to use their creative energies to tender for the development of a specific product idea. This “Dragon’s Den” style activity is designed to enhance planning, team work, and presentation skills.

Key stage 4

Exam Board: Edexcel

Our vision is to develop real world, enterprising, higher education and employability skills for tomorrow’s leaders and to prepare our students for the dynamic and global business environment.

We are here to equip our students with essential knowledge about the profit motive, the functions of business, and the wider business environment. 

• Business Education involves critical thinking, interpretation of data, and manipulation of concepts and ideas.
• Business Studies deals with specific businesses and how they operate in the external environment, looking at how they overcome problems such as finding finance and staff, and marketing their products profitably.
• The skills of application, analysis and evaluation which are developed in these subjects are highly valued by universities and employers because they show your ability to think critically. It’s a useful subject for careers in banking, finance, management and many more.

Assessment Details:

Paper 1 – Theme 1: Investigating small business

Paper 2 – Theme 2: Building a business

Written exam: 90 minutes, 90 marks

Multiple choice, calculation, short-answer and extended-writing questions.

Theme 1: Investigating Small Business

Written examination: 50% of the qualification

Content overview:

• Topic 1.1 Enterprise and entrepreneurship

• Topic 1.2 Spotting a business opportunity

• Topic 1.3 Putting a business idea into practice

• Topic 1.4 Making the business effective 

• Topic 1.5 Understanding external influences on business

Theme 2: Building a Business

Written examination: 50% of the qualification

Content overview:

• Topic 2.1 Growing the business

• Topic 2.2 Making marketing decisions

• Topic 2.3 Making product decisions 

• Topic 2.4 Making financial decisions 

• Topic 2.5 Making human resource decisions

Recommended Websites:

Examination Board:

qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-gcses/business-2017 

Other useful websites:

www.bbc.co.uk/bitesizewww.tutor2u.net

revisionworld.com/gcse-revision/business-studies

Key stage 5

Exam Board: AQA

Who is it for?

You will be using real businesses to enhance your knowledge of companies and why they undertake the actions they do. Throughout the course, you will learn the importance of knowing your customers, appreciating your workforce and developing effective strategies to launch new products. An interest in business topics and issues that are relevant in today’s society, such as digital technology, business ethics and globalisation and an inquisitive mind are two important qualities you must bring.

Where does it lead?

By successfully completing this course you could move on to study for a degree. You could also go on to a Modern Apprenticeship in related subjects such as Administration or Management or on to relevant employment. Whichever path you choose after completing the course, you will have developed key skills which will help both in further education and employment.

What will I study?

You will develop a general knowledge of the key functional areas of Businesses such as finance, human resources, marketing and external influences. All units will require working with a business and provide significant opportunities for students to investigate the real world.

There are ten mandatory units which are detailed below:

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

How will I be assessed?

A-level Business examinations include questions that allow students to demonstrate their ability to draw together their knowledge, skills and understanding from across the full course of study:

Paper 1: 33.3% of the qualification - 2 hours

Paper 2: 33.3% of the qualification - 2 hours

Paper 3: 33.3% of the qualification - 2 hours