Business Studies

What skills and ideas will I learn?

You will learn to:

● use business terminology to identify and explain business activity
● apply business concepts to familiar and unfamiliar contexts
● develop problem solving and decision making skills relevant to business
● investigate, analyse and evaluate business opportunities and issues
● make justified decisions using both qualitative and quantitative data including its selection, interpretation, analysis and evaluation, and the application of appropriate quantitative skills.

How is the course assessed?

The course is assessed through two written examinations at the end of Year 11:

Paper 1 Influences of operations and HRM on business activity.

This paper assesses:

Business in the real world
Influences on business
Business operations​
Human Resources
Paper 2 Influences of marketing and finance on business activity.

This paper assesses:

● Business in the real world
● Influences on business
● Marketing
● Finance

Each paper is worth 50% of the final GCSE grade and each is 1 hour 45 minutes in length. Both papers have three sections totalling 90 marks as follows:

● Section A has multiple choice questions and short answer questions worth 20 marks.
● Section B has one case study/data response stimuli with questions worth approximately 34 marks.
● Section C has one case study/data response stimuli with questions worth approximately 36 marks.

What will the course allow me to progress to in the future?
GCSE Business can lead to study at A level in Business or related subjects such as Accounting and Finance or Economics. It is also a very good preparation for vocational study at Level 3 and above or entry to an apprenticeship in a wide variety of industries.

The delivery of the GCSE course in Business suits a broad range of learning styles and abilities as you are encouraged to play an active role in your studies, join in discussions, carry out research, solve problems and present your ideas to the group. We also undertake the process of business planning and you will work together in small groups to set up and run a mini business enterprise, consolidating the business theory that you have been learning whilst also developing your practical business skills. We aim to equip our students for success in further study and employment by providing them with the opportunities to develop both business and transferable skills and the fundamental knowledge required by employers. We value and foster an enterprising attitude and welcome pupils who have a keen interest in broadening their experience and knowledge.