Business and Economics

Business Studies and Economics are both dynamic subjects and relate to the world we live in today. During lessons students apply real life examples to business theory and models. A large emphasis is placed on looking at industries and Economic policies and seeing how they shape people’s lives.

The majority of teaching is carried out in the modern, purpose built Business Studies block which houses a Boardroom and a Lecture Theatre, and use of ICT is encouraged outside of lessons and used during teaching.

At A level Business, students will follow the Edexcel 2 Year linear course.

A Level Business is an enjoyable and rewarding course. It is suitable for students who have a lively and enquiring mind and a willingness to explore new ideas. The course aims to provide knowledge and understanding of business activity and also to develop useful skills to higher education or employment. The course focuses on the dynamic nature of the contemporary business works.

A Level course content:

Theme 1 - Marketing and people

Theme 2 - Managing a business

Theme 3 - Business decisions and strategy

Theme 4 - Global business

Formal Assessment - Three external examinations will be taken in Year 2 of the course.

EdEdexcel GCSE Business

GCSE Business is an excellent introduction to business and economic concepts across a range of

of many different types of businesses.

As a successful GCSE Business student, you will gain lifelong skills including an understanding of:

• The different forms of business organisations
• The environments in which businesses operate
• How economic circumstances affect business performance
• The importance of the business functions of marketing, operations management, human resources and finance to business success
• How to analyse business situations and reach supported decisions or judgements

Structure and Assessment

The course consists of two themes. These themes will be tested across two examinations taken

at the end of the course. Each paper is out of 90 marks and each exam is 90 minutes long.

Theme 1 and Theme 2 exam papers have equal weighting of 50% respectively.

Theme 1 – Investigating Small Business

1. 1- Enterprise and Entrepreneurs – Students are introduced to the dynamic nature of business in in relation to how and why business ideas come about.

1. 2 - Spotting a business opportunity – Understanding customer needs and conducting market re research

1. 3 - Putting a business idea into practice – Making a business idea happen through identifying aims and concentrating on the financial aspects of running a business, cash flow,

Br break Even charts.

1. 4 - Making the business effective – The success of a business, including location, the marketing mix (4Ps) and the business plan.

1. 5 - Understanding external influences in business – Factors which are outside of the immediate control of the business, such as stakeholder influences, changes in technology, legislation and

t hthe economy.

T Theme 2 – Building a Business

2. 1 - Growing a business – The impacts of globalisation and the ethical environment.

2. 2 - Making marketing decision – Looking at elements of marketing and how they inform business decisions.

2. 3 - Making operational decisions – Focuses on meeting customer needs through supply and quantity issues.

2. 4 - Making financial decisions – Ratio analysis, the uses and limitation of financial information on business performance.

2 .5 - Making

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At Key Stage 5 students are given the option of taking A level Business or A level Economics.

 

Economic issues are central to an understanding of the real world. Studying Economics will give students the opportunity to view what is going on in the world we live in today and an understanding of why it is happening. Phrases such as Government spending, economic slowdown, fiscal policy, national debt and the ever increasing budget deficit will all become clear. Policies adopted by the Government and the understanding of the chancellor's budget will all form the basis of learning. Students may understand why government grants for tuition fees for university courses starting in September 2016 have now become loans.

A Level course content:

Theme 1 – Introduction to markets and market failure

Theme 2 – The UK economy – performance and policies

Theme 3 – Business behaviour and labour markets

Theme 4 – A global perspective

Formal Assessment - Three external examinations will be taken in Year 2 of the course.

At A level Economics students will follow the Edexcel 2 Year linear course.

Year 12 and 13 students will have the opportunity to take part in the ICAEW BASE National Business and Accounting Competition

In 2020 a group of talented Business and Economic students have entered the Bank of England’s Target 2.0 Challenge. Students also have the opportunity to participate in the student's investor competition.

Proposed trips include visits to:

• ‘The Business of Chocolate’ – Cadbury World
• Jaguar Landover plant Castle Bromwich
• AMEY Waste Management service – Waterbeach Cambridge
• The Bank of England
• An Overseas Residential
• JCB