Business Studies
Note that Business Studies is not taught at Key Stage 3.
Curriculum Aims
Develop a comprehensive understanding of core business concepts, including business structures, functions, and operations, to enable students to grasp how businesses are organised and managed.
Foster the ability to critically analyse and evaluate business strategies, financial performance, and market conditions to make informed decisions and propose viable solutions.
Encourage students to apply business theories and models to real-world scenarios, enhancing their problem-solving skills and practical understanding of business dynamics.
Equip students with knowledge of economic principles and market forces, including supply and demand, competition, and globalization, to understand their impact on business activities.
Cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset by exploring innovation, risk management, and business planning, preparing students to consider and pursue entrepreneurial ventures.
Highlight the importance of ethical considerations and corporate social responsibility in business decision-making, promoting awareness of how businesses can positively contribute to society.
Develop effective communication and teamwork skills through group projects, presentations, and discussions, reflecting the collaborative nature of business environments.
Key Stage 4
Course: AQA GCSE Business
Exam Board: (8132)
Final Assessment: Two 1 hour 45-minute written exams – both worth 50% and are taken at the end of Y11.
Curriculum Overview
The AQA GCSE Business Studies course provides students with an understanding of how businesses operate, make decisions, and adapt to changing environments. In KS3, students explore the nature of business, including different types of business ownership, organizational structures, and business functions such as marketing, finance, and operations. Business planning is covered, this focuses on understanding business activities, such as setting up and running a business, financial planning, and the importance of business planning and strategy. Human Resources looks at the role of staff alongside the management, including recruitment, training, and motivation of employees, and how these factors contribute to business success. Ethics and Social Responsibility emphasizes the importance of ethical considerations and corporate social responsibility in business practices. Students will practice exam strategy and technique throughout KS3 to scaffold their learning, ready for KS4. Students start the last two units which are Marketing and Finance. We use Marketing to teach students how businesses can identify customer needs, develop marketing strategies, and use various techniques to promote and sell products or services. Finance covers essential financial concepts, including sources of finance, financial statements, and budgeting, enabling students to understand how businesses manage and analyse their finances whether it be personal or as a Business owner. Both units are put together to build a creative task which consists of them making their own cereal brand by using all the knowledge they have learnt. Students will also work heavily on exam technique, re-calling previous units and completing past papers to really work on timings for each answer, ensuring they are feeling confident for their exam date.
Units covered in Y10:
Business in the Real World
Influences on Businesses
Business Operations
Human Resources
Units Covered in Y11:
Marketing
Finance
Further details can be found here: