Business Studies was introduced to the school last year. At AS and A2 level we follow the AQA specification.
The specification provides students with a critical understanding of the following:
- the internal functions of contemporary business organisations of all types
- the dynamic external environment within which businesses operate and the effects this can have upon decision-making within a business
- major topical issues that can generate change for business organisations and the ways in which businesses respond to these issues
- the range of stakeholder perspectives that can be taken on business activities.
Business Studies is a subject that enables students to gain a range of important and transferable skills including:
- data skills – students are expected to manipulate data in a variety of forms and to interpret their results
- presenting arguments and making judgments and justified recommendations on the basis of the available evidence
- recognising the nature of problems, solving problems and making decisions using appropriate business tools and methods
- planning work, taking into account the demands of the task and the time available to complete it
- conducting research into a specific theme in preparation for one or more tasks
- challenging their own assumptions using evidence that has become available.
In the first year of the course, the ‘Advanced Subsidiary’ year, students will study the following:
Unit 1 – Planning and Financing a Business.Â
This unit allows students to gain an understanding of the scope of business studies within the context of starting a new business. The unit will provide understanding of key financial concepts.
Unit 2 – Managing a Business.
This unit will consider the issues that managers face in relation to managing the human element of a business. Students will also gain understanding of the importance of operational decisions in managing a business, including the role of ICT.
The year’s work will be assessed by 2 modular examinations in either January and/or June. They will be short answer questions and extended responses based on a mini case study, as well as compulsory, multi-part data response questions.
If students wish they may leave the course at the end of the first year with the Advanced Subsidiary qualification. However, they may wish to continue into the second year and work towards the full Advanced Level GCE qualification. The second year builds upon the units covered at AS and develops further knowledge of the business environment. A2 work will be assessed externally through a case study examination and an external examination based upon pre-release research tasks.
All students are issued with a text book, as well as having access to an interactive learning package that can be used to reinforce their learning. In addition, I encourage them to subscribe to a quarterly Business Review magazine. I also have a range of books which they are able to borrow. It is expected that they keep up to date with current news by reading newspapers or watching the national news regularly – that often helps other subjects too!
Although students need not have encountered Business Studies previously, it is advisable that they have achieved a minimum of a grade C in English GCSE.