The Business Studies department offers two courses: BTEC National Award and A Level (please scroll down for information about these courses).
BTEC National Award
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Why study this course?
If you are interested in finding employment in the business sector, or wish to go on to study at FE and HE level. This is also ideal for students who prefer 100% assessment by coursework over the 2 years in preference to exams.
What will I study?
From a central bank of 24 units, students must achieve 6 units to gain the full award. Four are mandatory, as follows:
Unit 1 Investigating business
Students will produce a project to show an understanding of the following: different types of business ownership and reasons for change; different organisation structures; objectives and expectations of shareholders and how they may change; reasons for growth or decline of industrial sectors; competition and competitiveness.
Unit 2 Customer Service
Students will provide evidence to show an understanding of the following: the benefits to business of providing good customer service; how customer service is adapted to the needs of the customer; how a selected business operates and manages its customer service function; how customer service standards are planned, implemented and monitored.
Unit 3 Business Communications
Students will produce evidence to show an understanding of the following: how to use verbal and written methods of communication for specific purposes; how to use the internet for research and communication; how to use ICT software for communication and presentation; the impact of ICT on business practice.
Unit 4 Finance for Business
Students will demonstrate the ability to interpret summary financial statements and make judgments about business performance. Candidates will demonstrate a knowledge of national, European and global financial issues and be able to use analytical and evaluative skills in a financial context.
The remaining two units will probably comprise:
Unit 5 Marketing for Business and Unit 17 Recruitment and Selection
How will I study?
The lessons will include teacher-led activities and case studies but will mainly consist of student-based investigations, which will include visiting businesses outside the school environment. You will work in a group and individually. You should be able to plan work and meet deadlines.
What do I need to start the course?
A minimum grade C in both English and Maths is strongly recommended. It is not a requirement to have studied Business Studies at GCSE but if you have, a Grade C or above is required.
Applied Business - AQA Single & Double Award AS/A2
The Applied courses offer candidates a broad introduction to the business sector and should encourage students to develop skills, knowledge and understanding in realistic business contexts, such as discovering the problems and opportunities faced by local businesses and/ or organising an enterprise activity. They are ideal qualifications for those candidates who want a broad background in Applied Business, which will allow them to progress to further or higher education, training or employment.
Both Applied options will appeal to students who have a preference for coursework, as two thirds of the units are internally assessed by portfolio.
Assessment
The Advanced Level Single Award (1 GCE) comprises three units from the AS Scheme of Assessment and three units from the A2 Scheme of Assessment. Of these 6 units, TWO are externally assessed by examination.
The Advanced Level Double Award (2 GCEs) comprises six units from the AS Scheme of Assessment and six units from the A2 Scheme of Assessment. Of these 12 units, FOUR are externally assessed by examination.
Units offered include:
AS Level
Unit 1: Investigating Business
In this portfolio assessed unit, candidates will explore the aims and objectives of businesses, the needs of their customers and how these are met through the use of the marketing mix. They will investigate how businesses deal with competition from other businesses and how external factors, such as changing social values, can affect a business. Candidates will explore the meaning of enterprise and enterprising behaviour and why individuals and teams are vital to the success of the business.
Unit 3: Financial Planning and Monitoring
In this externally assessed unit, candidates will be assessed on their ability to calculate business costs, revenues and profits and be required to know how managers use this information in decision making. They will need to know the ways in which businesses plan their finances by, for example, drawing cash flow forecasts or budgets and how businesses use this data to monitor the performance of the organisation.
A2 Level
Unit 8: Business Planning
In this portfolio assessed unit, candidates will be given the opportunity to produce a structured business plan for a new product or service. The plan should be suitable to present to an external lender, such as a bank, who might provide finance for a new or existing business, or to an internal stakeholder, such as a senior manager, who may have the authority to give the go-ahead for the business idea.
This unit is a synoptic unit which gives candidates the opportunity to apply enterprise, team working and presentation skills as well as applying the skills and knowledge learnt through other units in the specification.
Unit 11: The Marketing Environment
In this externally assessed unit, candidates will investigate how the marketing environment helps to determine the marketing strategies of profit and not-for-profit businesses. Candidates will explore the different aspects of the marketing environment, such as changes in consumer incomes and technology, and will learn how changes in the marketing environment can alter the costs, revenues and profits (surpluses) of businesses. Candidates will investigate how businesses gather data about the marketing environment and will develop their ability to analyse these data. They will explore the ways in which businesses alter their marketing strategies given changes in the marketing environment, recommending and justifying appropriate marketing
strategies.
How will I study?
The lessons will be a mixture of teacher led activity, workshops and student investigations; there will also be opportunities to visit local businesses and to hear from guest speakers. You will spend a significant amount of time working on your own, both in, and out of school, completing your portfolio and it is expected that such time will be used productively. You will be expected to have a keen interest in current economic and business events and issues.
What do I need to start the course?
A minimum Grade C in English and Maths is strongly recommended. It is not a requirement to have studied Economics or Business Studies at GCSE but if you have, a Grade C or above is required. Although the majority of assessment is through coursework, the Applied courses are academic courses and the externally assessed examinations are challenging.
