Business

Learning in Business

Studying Business introduces pupils to the dynamics of how a business is set up and organised. It enables individuals to enhance their ability to enter the world of work within a wide range of business organisations. Our course provides valuable opportunities to develop key skills such as ICT, Maths, team working and communication, as well as developing confidence and inter-personal skills. At Key Stage 4, the students are able to follow the OCR Cambridge Nationals Enterprise and Marketing course.

The structure of the course allows students to complete two coursework-based units focusing on enterprise and marketing of business. There is also an examination that students complete based on previously learnt knowledge.

Our Key Stage 5 students follow the BTEC Nationals Level 3 Business qualification, studying marketing, marketing strategy, international business strategy, accounting and finance through a number of coursework based tasks alongside examined units. All students have the opportunity to take part in a number of extra-curricular activities such as the Student Investor Challenge and the Young Enterprise competition.

Curriculum Intent

Our students will grasp concepts, ideas and learning in an up to date, relevant and real-life focused context. Students will be developing an understanding of their own capabilities and reflecting on self-improvement during their dynamic learning journey. Our students will be prepared for their next steps whether they progress onto higher Business courses or not, they will have a richer knowledge and understanding of the processes of Business and be ready to apply them. Our students will develop the key skills for employment; teamwork, leadership, communication, and organisation which will be prevalent throughout their learning experience. Our students will consider the ethical and environmental aspects of Business and will develop a roadmap of their own personal attitudes allowing them to participate in society as good citizens and employees/employers.

KS4, Year 10 & 11 Business Studies

To support all learners, including SEND, access content we focus on high quality teaching, alongside the use of a wide range of supportive resources including structured pre teaching, support decoding exam questions and modelling answers. We use exemplar material to help support students with their coursework and exam answers. We use retrieval questioning, to build student confidence and develop memory techniques to allow students to recall and understand the key exam content. Where exam arrangements are required in the form of readers, scribes and word processing, we work closely with relevant departments to ensure this provision is provided. Assignments may also be adapted giving extra instructions within OCR regulations, or breaking down tasks which can then be delivered in smaller ‘chunks’.

At KS4, the students follow the OCR Level 1/2 Cambridge National Certificate in Enterprise and Marketing course.

UnitGLHTypeMarksDetails
Unit R067: Enterprise and marketing concepts48Exam80

Topic Area 1: Characteristics, risk and reward for enterprise

Topic Area 2: Market research to target a specific customer

Topic Area 3: What makes a product financially viable

Topic Area 4: Creating a marketing mix to support a product

Topic Area 5: Factors to consider when starting up and running an enterprise

Unit R068: Design a business proposal36Controlled assessment60

Topic Area 1: Market research

Topic Area 2: How to identify a customer profile

Topic Area 3: Develop a product proposal

Topic Area 4: Review whether a business proposal is financially viable

Topic Area 5: Review the likely success of the business proposal

Unit R069: Market and pitch a business proposal36Controlled assessment60

Topic Area 1: Develop a brand identity to target a specific customer profile

Topic Area 2: Create a promotional campaign for a brand and product

Topic Area 3: Plan and pitch a proposal

Topic Area 4: Review a brand proposal, promotional campaign and professional pitch

Proposed structure to the course:

 Term 1Term 2Term 3Term 4Term 5Term 6
Year 10R068 – Design a business proposalR069 – Market and pitch a business proposal
Year 11R069 – Market and pitch a business proposalR067 – Enterprise and marketing concepts 

Revision links

KS5, Year 12 & 13 Business Studies

At KS5, the students follow the Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate Business course.

UnitGLHTypeDetails
Unit 1 Exploring Business90InternalCoursework unit set by Pearson.
Unit 2 Developing a Marketing Campaign90External• A task set and marked by Pearson and completed under supervised conditions.

 

• Learners will be given a context two weeks before a supervised assessment period in order to carry out research.

• The supervised assessment period is undertaken in a single session of three hours.

• Submission completed using a computer.

• 70 marks.

Unit 3 Personal and Business Finance120External• Written examination set by Pearson.

 

• 2 hours.

• 100 marks.

Unit 8 Recruitment and Selection Process60InternalCoursework unit set by Pearson.

 

Proposed structure to the course

 Term 1Term 2Term 3Term 4Term 5Term 6
Year 12Unit 1 Exploring BusinessUnit 3 Personal and Business Finance
Year 13Unit 2 Developing a Marketing Campaign

 

Two opportunities for the exam Jan and June

 
Unit 3 Personal and Business Finance

 

Two opportunities for the exam Jan and June

 
Unit 8 Recruitment and Selection Process   

Careers

Business Studies can lead to further areas of study such as a Level 3 Business qualification and then on to University.  This qualification is useful when considering future employment. The topics and case studies used throughout this course will help you understand the world of work. Business has strong academic and vocational aspects to it.

This course could lead to Business qualifications at University.  This qualification allows learners to enter the broad world of Business. Careers include:

Links

Fundamental British Values

British Values underpin many aspects of the course that we deliver within the Business department. As such, these themes recur in many topics that we teach.

  • Rule of law – As part of our GCSE and A Level Business Studies courses, both Business Law and Employment Law are covered in some depth as well as the importance of these laws in determining British liberties and freedoms. Product safety standards are covered in exam content and copyright and patents are covered in exam content.
  • Individual liberty – During the course there will be different circumstances of when a customer will be reviewed by the business, this can be seen as a limitation on individual liberty as the business segments the market to suit customers per product.
  • Mutual respect and tolerance – In our recruitment units, we analyse the impact of mutual respect, tolerance and equal opportunities when working with employees.
  • Equality and Diversity – Discussions and debates on how different ethnic groups and religious beliefs help contribute to the overall success of the global economy are regularly witnessed within business lessons. These are key to students understanding how every individual has a place in today’s society. At all times within the subject, students are encouraged to recognise an individual’s strength and support their development. Students are encouraged to embrace diversity and treat all others with respect both in and out of the classroom.