Business Studies

Subject Overview

Business is taught as a GCSE and as a vocational qualification at Key Stage 4. All businesses need enterprising employees to drive their organisations forward, to have ideas and initiatives to instigate growth, and to ensure that businesses survive in this fast-changing world. Enterprise is a key government focus and is set to form an important part of the UK’s global economic status, both now and in the future. Business and enterprise skills provide a fantastic progression pathway into a number of roles in an organisation and are transferable into all businesses.

GCSE Business 

The Edexcel GCSE Business course is designed to introduce students to the fundamental concepts of business and economics. It typically covers a range of topics that help students understand how businesses operate, make decisions, and respond to changing environments.

The course is divided into two main themes taught over two years

Year 10 topics

Theme 1 Investigating Small Business comprises of five topic areas.

• Topic 1.1 Enterprise and entrepreneurship – students are introduced to the dynamic nature of business in relation to how and why business ideas come about. They also explore the impact of risk and reward on business activity and the role of entrepreneurship.
• Topic 1.2 Spotting a business opportunity – students will explore how new and small businesses identify opportunities through understanding customer needs and conducting market research. They will also focus on understanding the competition.
• Topic 1.3 Putting a business idea into practice – this topic focuses on making a business idea happen through identifying aims and objectives and concentrating on the financial aspects.
• Topic 1.4 Making the business effective – students will explore a range of factors that impact on the success of the business, including location, the marketing mix and the business plan.
• Topic 1.5 Understanding external influences on business – students are introduced to a range of factors, many of which are outside of the immediate control of the business, such as stakeholders, technology, legislation and the economy. Students will explore how businesses respond to these influences.

Year 11 topics

Theme 2 Building a Business comprises of five topic areas.

• Topic 2.1 Growing the business – students are introduced to methods of growth and how and why business aims and objectives change as businesses evolve. The impact of globalisation and the ethical and environmental questions facing businesses are explored.
• Topic 2.2 Making marketing decisions – students will explore how each element of the marketing mix is managed and used to inform and make business decisions in a competitive marketplace.
• Topic 2.3 Making operational decisions – this topic focuses on meeting customer needs through the design, supply, quality and sales decisions a business makes.
• Topic 2.4 Making financial decisions – students will explore the tools a business has to support financial decision making, including ratio analysis and the use and limitation of a range of financial information.
• Topic 2.5 Making human resource decisions – growing a business means that decisions relating to organisational structure, recruitment, training and motivation need to be made to influence business activity. These aspects are considered in this final topic

How is this qualification assessed?

The Edexcel GCSE Business course is assessed through two exams at the end of year 11:

Theme 1 is a written examination that is 1 hour and 45 minutes and forms 50% of the qualification

Theme 2 is a written examination that is 1 hour and 45 minutes and forms 50% of the qualification

Each paper is divided into three sections:
Section A: 35 marks
Section B: 30 marks
Section C: 25 marks

The paper will consist of calculations, multiple-choice, short-answer and extended-writing questions.

Key Stage 4 Homework

Homework is set weekly. This could include research tasks about chosen businesses and preparation tasks for assignments, as well as homework to help prepare students for the externally-examined unit.

 BTEC Business 

The Pearson BTEC Level 1/Level 2 Tech Award in Enterprise is for learners who wish to acquire knowledge and skills through vocational contexts by studying the knowledge, behaviours and skills related to researching, planning, pitching and reviewing an enterprise idea as part of their Key Stage 4 learning. This includes the development of key skills that prove aptitude in planning an enterprise activity, including market research, planning, carrying out financial transactions, communication and problem solving.

How is this subject assessed?

Year 10 Topics 

Component 1 Exploring Enterprises

Learners will explore different enterprises to develop their knowledge and understanding of the characteristics of enterprises and the skills needed by entrepreneurs to be successful. Learners will explore how enterprises use market research to find out about their customer needs and competitor behaviour and how internal and external factors may affect enterprises.

Year 11 Topics 

Component 2 Planning and Presenting a Micro-Enterprise idea

Learners will generate two realistic ideas for a micro-enterprise and choose one of these to plan within budget. They will individually present their business plan for their idea and review the production and delivery of their presentation to make recommendations for improvements.

Component 3 Marketing and Finance for Enterprise

Learners will explore how marketing is used by enterprises and the factors that influence how enterprises identify and target their market. Learners will complete financial documents and statements and explore how to use them to monitor and improve the performance of an enterprise in order to make decisions and recommend strategies for success

Internal assessment – externally moderated

Components 1 and 2 are assessed through non-exam internal assessment. The non-exam internal assessment for these components has been designed to demonstrate application of the conceptual knowledge underpinning the sector through realistic tasks and activities. This style of assessment promotes deep learning through ensuring the connection between knowledge and practice.

External synoptic assessment

There is one external assessment, Component 3, which provides the main synoptic assessment for the qualification. Component 3 builds directly on Components 1 and 2 and enables learning to be brought together and applied to realistic contexts.

How does this subject fulfil SMSC needs?

Social - Students complete group work within lessons as well as practical tasks when looking at theory topics. Students will need to work with a variety of people when they go into the world of work and these exercises will develop their social skills.

Moral - Students learn how businesses have used these to keep the cost of their goods and services down to make more money. They also look at the other side of the argument that without these factories being set up, people might have even less. Students move on to look at Fairtrade goods and how businesses look to use these.

Spiritual – The different spiritual beliefs of people play a key role in business planning. Students are made aware that these beliefs need to be considered when bringing out new products due to the response they might get from people with different beliefs.

Cultural – Students complete a lot of group work within lessons as well as practical tasks when looking at theory topics. Students will need to work with a variety of people when they go into the world of work and these exercises will develop their social skills.

How does the subject challenge more able pupils?

The qualification is graded over seven grades from Level 1 Pass to Level 2 Distinction*. Learners must achieve all components at Level 1 Pass or above in order to be awarded a qualification. The holistic approach of the assignment briefs allows learners to reflect on their research and skills allowing them to achieve the higher grades. More able students who are also good at Mathematics may choose to study GCSE Economics.

What provision is made for pupils with SEND?

Quality first teaching in all of our lessons places an emphasis on high-quality inclusive teaching that utilises a range of strategies to support the learning of pupils with SEND in the classroom.

Enrichment and extra-curricular opportunities

We run the MyBnk financial education programme and a trip to the Bank of England Museum.

Useful websites

https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/btec-tech-awards/enterprise.html

https://www.tutor2u.net/business

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business