Business

The aims and objectives of this qualification are to enable students to: 

• know and understand business concepts, business terminology, business objectives, the integrated nature of business activity and the impact of business on individuals and wider society;
• apply knowledge and understanding to contemporary business issues and to different types and sizes of businesses in local, national and global contexts; 
• develop as enterprising individuals with the ability to think commercially and creatively to demonstrate business acumen, and draw on evidence to make informed business decisions and solve business problems;
• develop as effective and independent students, and as critical and reflective thinkers with enquiring minds;
• use an enquiring, critical approach to make informed judgements;
• investigate and analyse real business opportunities and issues to construct well-argued, well-evidenced, balanced and structured arguments, demonstrating their depth and breadth of understanding of business; and
• develop and apply quantitative skills relevant to business, including using and interpreting data.

Year 10 focuses on theme 1 in which students study 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. 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 interdependencies and relationships underpin business decisions. 

Year 11 focuses on theme 2 in which students will examine how a business develops beyond the start-up phase.This theme 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.

Hours of lessons per fortnight for this subject:

- KS4: 5

Edexcel: Business

Fully equipped classrooms with computers and interactive whiteboards with a range of business studies resources.

Looking at arranging speakers from the world of business or to visit local businesses to look at how they are run successfully.