Business Studies

Business Studies

The aim of the Business Studies department is to provide outstanding teaching of Business, Economics and Law and to develop pupils’ understanding and awareness of Business issues.

Specifically, the department aims to provide:

  • A rewarding and stimulating learning experience for students.
  • The learning and application of theory to the world of today.
  • Specific and measurable learning outcomes in preparation for the examination.
  • A broad range of transferable skills and useful knowledge in preparation for further study and/or working life.

Information about specific courses can be found on the links to the right.

The Business A-level explores the inter-related nature of the functional areas of business, such as finance and marketing. Using business models, theories and techniques you will learn to analyse and evaluate contemporary business issues and situations. The course content is designed to engage students through topics and issues that are relevant in today‘s society – you will study key contemporary developments such as digital technology, business ethics, and globalisation.

The course content is not vocational. It aims to make you think about business in a critical manner, considering both positive and negative aspects of businesses decisions and strategies.

Topic areas include

  • Managers, leadership and decision making
  • Decision making to improve marketing performance
  • Decision making to improve human resource performance
  • Analysing the strategic position of a business
  • Choosing strategic direction
  • Managing strategic change

Assessment
There are three papers at A-level, each incorporating all areas of the subject content in the specification. The question papers use a variety of assessment styles including multiple choice, short answer, data response, essay and case studies.

  • A-level Business Paper 1
    Fifteen multiple choice questions and short answer questions in two compulsory sections.
    Two essays with the choice of one from two.
  • A-level Business Paper 2
    Three multi-part data response compulsory questions.
  • A-level Business Paper 3
    Six compulsory questions based on one case study.

Careers

This course provides a sound basis for progression to further study or employment.  There are many courses related to Business available at university, some which allow you to study overseas.

The rapid growth of self-employment has been a pronounced feature of the UK labour market in recent years(www.ons.gov.uk).  After studying A level Business you will be in a strong position to start up your own business.  You will have knowledge of marketing and finance, resource management and the knowledge of developing an effective workforce which will prove invaluable.

Studying A Level Business will also equip you with many transferable skills useful in industry such as analytical skills, decision making, financial acumen, management techniques and risk management.

Careers after studying Business include:

  • Investment banking
  • Finance and accounting
  • Marketing – Advertising Executive, Market/Data Analyst, Retail Marketing, Market Research
  • Human Resources – recruitment, training and development
  • Operations Planning and Logistics
  • Management
  • Strategic Planning

Remain or leave? Is Brexit a good idea for the UK economy?

Uber and Deliveroo – Are there benefits to the UK of a growth in the ‘gig’ economy?

Vaping – unintended consequences?

Examination board: AQA

AS and A level Economics aims to give an insight into key issues in the news affecting everyday life. The goal is to understand the forces driving things like the price of oil, exchange rates and the level of unemployment in an economy. Students enjoy Economics because it is contemporary and rooted in the real world, but at the same time it is always closely related to a clearly explained set of economic theory that uses statistics and other quantitative methods to support and develop ideas.

The subject is split into two main sections, microeconomics and macroeconomics. Whereas macro looks at the big issues affecting the economy as a whole (unemployment, inflation, growth and so on), micro looks at a smaller scale; the pricing of individual products like oil or gold; the salaries paid to different people, and the reasons for any differences. Students also study the work of some key Economic theorists such as Friedrich Hayek, Karl Marx and Adam Smith.

The subject looks at the reasons why changes occur, and builds models to help analyse changes. Hence a student having studied Economics would understand clearly why prices of oil, copper, gold, silver and wood fluctuate. They would understand the causes of unemployment in advanced economies, and why the UK economy has been slower to recover from the global credit crunch than many others. They would understand why some countries are so much richer than others, and what can be done about it.

Taken together, micro and macroeconomics give a complete understanding of the economy as a whole that will be valuable in career terms as well as bringing an increased understanding of the news!

The A level covers the following 14 topic areas:

  • Individuals, firms, markets and market failure
  • Economic methodology and the economic problem
  • Individual economic decision making
  • Price determination in a competitive market
  • Production, costs and revenue
  • Perfect competition, imperfectly competitive markets and monopoly
  • The labour market
  • The distribution of income and wealth: poverty and inequality
  • The market mechanism, market failure and government intervention in markets

The national and international economy

  • The measurement of macroeconomic performance
  • How the macroeconomy works : the circular flow of income, AD/AS analysis, and related concepts
  • Economic performance
  • Financial markets and monetary policy
  • Fiscal policy and supply-side policies
  • The international economy

Examinations: A level 3 x 2 hour examinations
Coursework: None

 

Careers:

An A Level in Economics is widely respected in industry and this course will also equip you with many transferable skills useful in any career such as analytical skills, quantitative skills, decision making and global knowledge.

Many students who take A level Economics continue their study at University on courses such as Economics or Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) at Russell group Universities.

A few careers with a qualification in Economics are:

  • Investment Banking
  • Stockbroking
  • Economist
  • Accountancy
  • Data Analysis
  • Financial risk analysis
  • Diplomatic Service
  • Management Consultancy

The course provides an introduction to law, a ‘taster’ for study at degree level and will enable you to explore an exciting and challenging new subject! You will develop a range of skills useful for university and employment. These will include the ability to analyse hypothetical scenarios and apply legal rules and principles to solve problems. You will become adept at critically evaluating legal rules and the legal system by formulating reasoned and persuasive arguments supported by evidence. There are three examinations at the end of the second year. The topic areas include:

The Nature of Law and the English Legal System

This topic considers the rule of law and how laws are made and interpreted by the courts. You will also learn about court and tribunal structures alternative methods of dispute resolution, access to justice and the role of legal personnel and lay people. You will investigate the role that law plays in society .and the relationship that it has with justice and morality.

Criminal Law

In this unit you will learn about the elements of a crime and study the law of homicide, non- fatal offences, such as assault and battery, and the property offences of theft and robbery. The unit also includes what is meant by an “attempt” and a range of defences to crimes, including self- defence.

The Law of Tort

This involves the study of the law of negligence which concerns injury to people and damage to property, occupier’s liability, nuisance and vicarious liability. It will also include defences, such as consent, as well as the remedies available to a court.

Contract Law

Contracts are entered all the time, for example, when you go shopping or eat out with family or friends. If a problem arises, the law of contract helps people to resolve the dispute by providing rules to decide where the blame lies and what potential solutions are available.

Assessment

There are three two hour examination papers: Paper 1 – Criminal Law; Paper 2 – The Law of Tort; Paper 3 – Contract Law. The Nature of Law and English Legal System is assessed in each of these papers, making up 25% of the marks. All the exam papers are equally weighted. Questions are multiple choice, short and longer essay and problem-questions.

Additional Information

A Level Law is an intellectually challenging subject that requires the ability to memorise an immense number of legal principles from cases and Acts of Parliament. Exam questions require a thorough analysis and application of these legal principles.

Future Career Opportunities

Some students go on to study Law at university, often intending to become a lawyer. Some students choose to study other subjects at degree level having benefitted from the knowledge and skills developed during A Level Law. You can also pursue a wide-range of other careers after a Law degree including in social services, business, local or central government or teaching. Alternatively, there are opportunities for employment directly after college, often with additional training, such as or joining the Police or a higher legal apprenticeship to become a Chartered Legal Executive.

Have you ever wanted to be your own boss and run your own business? Within weeks of starting this course you will be trading and making profit.

If you have big company ambitions you will learn how to operate in global markets. This is a hugely interesting course and is designed to give valuable insights into all types of businesses and covers services, manufacturing and web based organisations.

The course starts by looking at how to start up a business in Unit 1 and progressing to Unit 2 which focuses on helping you to develop the business further and manage it to ensure success.

Course Content:

Unit 1: Investigating a small business

 

1 hour 30 minutes Examination

50% of the qualification

  • Entrepreneurship and enterprise
  • Spotting a business opportunity
  • Putting a business idea into practice
  • Making the business effective
  • Understanding external influences on business
Unit 2: Building a business

 

 

1 hour 30 minutes Examination

50% of the qualification

 

  • Growing the business
  • Making marketing decisions
  • Making operational decisions
  • Making financial decisions
  • Making human resource decisions
Assessment

The exam board is Edexcel. Both papers will consist of calculations, multiple-choice, short-answer and extended-writing questions based on a business context outlined in the exam paper. You will sit both exams at the end of Year 11.