Business
Curriculum Intent
Year 12 Curriculum Overview
Year 13 Curriculum Overview
GCSE Business Studies
The course covers various aspects of business, such as Marketing, Finance, Operations, and Human Resources, giving students a well-rounded perspective of what the course has to offer.
The course provides practical and real-world applications, helping students link theoretical knowledge to actual business practices.
The course is engaging and Interactive: incorporating case studies, group projects, and interactive learning activities, which can make the course engaging and practical. These methods help students better grasp complex business concepts and see them in action.
The course offers a wide range of Career Options: Understanding business is crucial for many careers, not only in business-related fields like Management, Marketing, Finance, or Human Resources but also in areas like Law, Politics, and the Public Sector. This course gives you transferable skills like problem-solving, decision-making, and critical thinking.
Supports Further Study: If you're considering further education, such as A-levels or vocational qualifications, Edexcel Business Studies provides a strong foundation for subjects like Economics, Accounting, or even specific business courses in higher education.
Assessment Structure: The Edexcel Business Studies GCSE course is run over a period of two years. Theme 1 “Investigating Small Business” is taught in Year 1 and Theme 2 “Building a Business” is taught in Year 2.
A-Level Business
Almost every decision you make is influenced by a business. Perhaps through an expensive marketing campaign or a celebrity endorsing a brand. Maybe the education you receive or the medication you take through the NHS. To make the best decisions, you need the best understanding of the information presented to you. To succeed as an entrepreneur or an employee, you need a strong understanding of your own capabilities and how these can be used to the business’ advantage. Through the study of business, you will learn how to match your skills to your ambitions. You will develop an enquiring mind and be able to draw connections between multiple concepts. You will learn how to take a logical approach to problem-solving and become able to think outside the box. You will learn how to shape and evaluate strategies and, through this become, an effective negotiator. As a business student, you will develop an understanding of how businesses target customers and establish their position within the market. You will learn about entrepreneurs and leaders - and how to manage people and change. You will use accountancy ratios to assess the competitiveness of businesses, and explore the impact of business expansion on developed and emerging global markets. Due to the broad application of this subject, studying business is an excellent pathway to many university courses such as Business, Management, Accountancy, Marketing, PR, Economics, Politics, Law, and Human Resource Management.
Unit summary
The A-Level Business course covers the following four themes:
1. Marketing and people;
2. Managing business activities;
3. Business decisions and strategies;
4. Global busness.
The course is assessed by the way of three examination papers at the end of the course:
| Paper | Assessment Type |
| 1. Marketing, people and global business (35%) | 2 hour external examination |
| 2. Business activities, decisions and strategy (35%) | 2 hour external examination |
| 3. Investigating business in a competitive environment (30%) | 2 hour external examination |
Course requirements
To be accepted onto the course you will need the following at GCSE:
- English Language or English Literature at Grade 5 or above
- Mathematics at Grade 5 or above