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Business Studies

Business activity affects the daily lives of all people, as they work, spend, save, travel, and play. They, therefore, must be prepared to engage in business activity with confidence by understanding how businesses function and the role it plays in our society. Key skills of problem-solving, decision making, numeracy and extended writing are developed throughout the GCSE and A Level.

GCSE

Students will understand the topic of enterprise and entrepreneurship and study the four primary functions of a business: Marketing; Operations; Human Resources and Finance as well as considering internal and external influences on decision making within an organisation. 

There are two examination papers to be taken at the end of Year 11, both lasting 1 ¾ hours, with equal weighting towards a final grade.  Each paper concentrates on the two main areas of the purpose of business and external influences, whilst paper 1 also tests knowledge on Business Operations and Human Resources and paper 2 on Marketing and Finance.

A Level

A natural progression of GCSE Business, but students who have not taken the GCSE are not disadvantaged at
A Level. A Level Business Students will:

  • develop a critical understanding of organisations, the markets they serve and the process of adding value
  • be aware that business behaviour can be studied from the perspectives of a range of stakeholders
  • be aware of the current structure of business and business practice.
  • develop their ability to acquire a range of important and transferable skills including data skills, presenting arguments, making judgments, conducting research and extended writing.

Subjects studied at this level focus on management decision making within the functions of business, as well as gaining a global and strategic prospective of the business world. There are 10 units to study over the 2 years. 

  1. What is business?
  2. Managers, leadership and decision making
  3. Decision making to improve marketing performance
  4. Decision making to improve operational performance
  5. Decision making to improve financial performance
  6. Decision making to improve human resource performance
  7. Analysing the strategic position of a business
  8. Choosing the strategic direction
  9. Strategic methods: how to pursue strategies
  10. Managing strategic change

There are three 2 hour examination papers for the full A Level - each testing the knowledge of all the content learned and carrying equal weighting.

Business links well with:

Computer Studies; Geography; Philosophy; Mathematics and Economics and is considered a good ‘facilitating’ subject for entry to university.

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