Business

Curriculum Intent

The Business Studies department aims to provide our students with the skills and knowledge necessary for an ever-changing competitive environment. We aim to ensure that all our students can go out into the world of work with the attributes necessary to be a success. To achieve our aims we ensure we provide a curriculum that meets the needs of all our learners and set the highest standards and expectations. We encourage all our students to be the best that they can be.

Department Staff 

Mr I Martin - Subject Leader
Mrs C Murray
Miss K Brittles

Curriculum Content
KS4/GCSE

Year 10

Term 1:

• Component 3: Promotion and Finance for Enterprise
  This is an externally assessed exam unit.Students will develop their understanding of the promotional mix and how a business can segment the market. They will also explore a range of financial documents, payment methods and develop their understanding of the different ways a business can measure and show their financial performance. Students will also consider the different sources of finance available to businesses.
  
  

Term 2:

• Component 3: Promotion and Finance for Enterprise
  

• Component 1: Exploring Enterprises
  This is an internally assessed coursework unit. Students will focus on two small, local businesses and investigate the aims of each business and the entrepreneurial skills and characteristics which have helped the businesses to be successful. Students will also explore how market research has been used by the business and how the internal and external environment can impact on business success.
  

Term 3:

• Component 1: Exploring Enterprises
  

Year 11

Term 1:

• Component 2: Planning for and Pitching an Enterprise Activity
  This is an internally assessed coursework unit. Students will focus on exploring opportunities for them to set up and run their own business. Students will plan out their idea and present it to the rest of the class. This unit will also involve students reviewing their pitch and suggesting ways in which it could be further improved.
  

Term 2:

• Component 3: Promotion and Finance for Enterprise

• Component 2 : Planning for and Pitching an Enterprise Activity
  

Term 3:

• Component 3: Promotion and Finance for Enterprise

• Component 2: Planning for and Pitching and Enterprise Activity

Curriculum Content
KS5/A-Level

Year 12

Term 1:

• Unit 1: Exploring Business
  This is an internally assessed coursework unit. Students will explore the features of different businesses and analyse what makes them successful. They will also investigate how businesses are organised and examine the environment in which businesses operate. Students also examine business markets and investigate the role and contribution of innovation and enterprise on business success.
  

• Unit 3: Personal and Business Finance
  This is an externally assessed exam unit. Students will develop an understanding of business and personal finance principles, concepts and theories. They will be able to apply this knowledge to real-life businesses and personal scenarios. Students will develop the ability to analyse business and personal finance information and data and also evaluate how financial information can be used to justify conclusions related to business and personal finance.
  

• Unit 5: International Business (Diploma students only)
  This is an internally assessed coursework unit. Students will explore the international context for business operations and investigate the international economic environment in which business operates. Students will also investigate the external factors and cultural factors that influence international business.They will also examine the strategic and operational approaches to developing international trade.

Term 2:

• Unit 1: Exploring Business
  This is an internally assessed coursework unit. Students will explore the features of different businesses and analyse what makes them successful. They will also investigate how businesses are organised and examine the environment in which businesses operate. Students also examine business markets and investigate the role and contribution of innovation and enterprise on business success.
  

• Unit 8: Recruitment and Selection Process
  This is an internally assessed coursework unit. Students will examine how effective recruitment and selection contribute to business success. They will also undertake a recruitment activity to demonstrate the processes leading to a successful job offer. Students will also reflect on the recruitment and selection process and their individual performance.
  

• Unit 5: International Business (Diploma students only)
  This is an internally assessed coursework unit. Students will explore the international context for business operations and investigate the international economic environment in which business operates. Students will also investigate the external factors and cultural factors that influence international business. They will also examine the strategic and operational approaches to developing international trade.
  

• Unit 4: Planning an Event (Diploma students only)
  This is an internally assessed coursework unit. Students will explore the role of an event organiser and investigate the feasibility of a proposed event. They will also develop a plan, stage and manage a business or social enterprise event. Students will also reflect on the running of the event and evaluate their own skills development.
  

• Unit 3: Personal and Business Finance
  This is an externally assessed exam unit. Students will develop an understanding of business and personal finance principles, concepts and theories. They will be able to apply this knowledge to real-life businesses and personal scenarios. Students will develop the ability to analyse business and personal finance information and data and also evaluate how financial information can be used to justify conclusions related to business and personal finance.

Term 3:

• Unit 1: Exploring Business
  This is an internally assessed coursework unit. Students will explore the features of different businesses and analyse what makes them successful. They will also investigate how businesses are organised and examine the environment in which businesses operate. Students also examine business markets and investigate the role and contribution of innovation and enterprise on business success.
  

• Unit 8: Recruitment and Selection Process
  This is an internally assessed coursework unit. Students will examine how effective recruitment and selection contribute to business success. They will also undertake a recruitment activity to demonstrate the processes leading to a successful job offer. Students will also reflect on the recruitment and selection process and their individual performance.
  

• Unit 5: International Business (Diploma students only)
  This is an internally assessed coursework unit. Students will explore the international context for business operations and investigate the international economic environment in which business operates. Students will also investigate the external factors and cultural factors that influence international business. They will also examine the strategic and operational approaches to developing international trade.
  

• Unit 4: Planning an Event (Diploma students only)
  This is an internally assessed coursework unit. Students will explore the role of an event organiser and investigate the feasibility of a proposed event. They will also develop a plan, stage and manage a business or social enterprise event. Students will also reflect on the running of the event and evaluate their own skills development.
  

• Unit 3: Personal and Business Finance
  This is an externally assessed exam unit. Students will develop an understanding of business and personal finance principles, concepts and theories. They will be able to apply this knowledge to real-life businesses and personal scenarios. Students will develop the ability to analyse business and personal finance information and data and also evaluate how

Year 13

Term 1:

• Unit 2: Developing a Marketing Campaign
  This is an externally assessed controlled conditions unit. Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of marketing principles, concepts, processes, key terms, data sources and definitions. They will also be able to analyse marketing information and data and be able to interpret the potential impact on marketing campaigns. Students will develop the ability to evaluate evidence in order to plan, develop and adapt a marketing campaign.
  

• Unit 6: Principles of Management (Diploma students only)
  This is an externally assessed controlled conditions unit. Students will develop an understanding of management and leadership principles, concepts and theories. Students will develop the ability to apply this understanding to real-life business scenarios. They will be able to analyse and evaluate management information to interpret the potential impact on business effectiveness. Students will also be able to use this information to recommend and justify management and leadership proposals.
  

• Unit 8: Recruitment and Selection Process
  This is an internally assessed coursework unit. Students will examine how effective recruitment and selection contribute to business success. They will also undertake a recruitment activity to demonstrate the processes leading to a successful job offer. Students will also reflect on the recruitment and selection process and their individual performance.
  

Term 2:

• Unit 2: Developing a Marketing Campaign
  This is an externally assessed controlled conditions unit. Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of marketing principles, concepts, processes, key terms, data sources and definitions. They will also be able to analyse marketing information and data and be able to interpret the potential impact on marketing campaigns. Students will develop the ability to evaluate evidence in order to plan, develop and adapt a marketing campaign.
  

• Unit 6: Principles of Management (Diploma students only)
  This is an externally assessed controlled conditions unit. Students will develop an understanding of management and leadership principles, concepts and theories. Students will develop the ability to apply this understanding to real-life business scenarios. They will be able to analyse and evaluate management information to interpret the potential impact on business effectiveness. Students will also be able to use this information to recommend and justify management and leadership proposals.
  

• Unit 19: Pitching for a New Business (Diploma students only)
  This is an internally assessed coursework unit. Students will explore potential ideas for a micro-business start-up and develop a business plan for their idea. Students will also carry out a pitch for funding for the chosen micro-business.
  

Term 3:

• Unit 2: Developing a Marketing Campaign
  This is an externally assessed controlled conditions unit. Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of marketing principles, concepts, processes, key terms, data sources and definitions. They will also be able to analyse marketing information and data and be able to interpret the potential impact on marketing campaigns. Students will develop the ability to evaluate evidence in order to plan, develop and adapt a marketing campaign
  

• Unit 6: Principles of Management (Diploma students only)
  This is an externally assessed controlled conditions unit. Students will develop an understanding of management and leadership principles, concepts and theories. Students will develop the ability to apply this understanding to real-life business scenarios. They will be able to analyse and evaluate management information to interpret the potential impact on business effectiveness. Students will also be able to use this information to recommend and justify management and leadership proposals.
  

• Unit 19: Pitching for a New Business (Diploma students only)
  This is an internally assessed coursework unit. Students will explore potential ideas for a micro-business start-up and develop a business plan for their idea. Students will also carry out a pitch for funding for the chosen micro-business.

Department Courses

BTEC Tech Award Level 1/2 in Enterprise
BTEC National Extended Certificate in Business
BTEC National Diploma in Business

Exam Board

Edexcel

Useful Links

BBC
Business Case Studies
Tutor2U

Extra-Curricular

Additional support is offered throughout the year to help the students complete their internally assessed units and to prepare for external assessments.