Business Studies

CURRICULUM INTENT

The Business Studies Department aims to develop our students into entrepreneurial individuals with the ability to think commercially and to demonstrate a clear understanding of the world of Business and Commerce.

Business Studies helps students develop the appropriate skills to understand the decisions businesses have to take in a constantly changing local and global economy. It also encourages a better understanding of the influence those decisions have on their own economic activity and future employment which equips our students with the appropriate knowledge and skills needed to develop their own careers in both Enterprise and Finance sectors.

During this 2-year course we study varies topics including: Marketing and pricing strategies used by businesses on their target market. We examine different approaches to staff recruitment and retention and how to motivate and train staff effectively to increase productivity in businesses. We study the benefits and drawbacks of varies business organisation structures, including how to set up as a sole trader, partnerships and establishing limited companies.

In Y11 we investigate methods of production and the technology used in business during manufacturing.  We study profit and loss accounts and analyse financial statements including different sources of finance to fund the business operations. Students learn how to make financial judgements based on business profitability and cash flow forecasting.  We also study the influence businesses have on the environment and global economy.

GCSE Business Studies students develop the ability to better understand the world of Business and Enterprise and as a result will be able to make more informed decisions about their future employment opportunities. The skills our students learn in GCSE Business Studies incorporate decision making, analytical and problem-solving skills which can be applied across the curriculum and support their attainment in various other subjects.  Business Studies creates a strong foundation for students planning to continue with FE vocational qualifications and A Level subjects like Business Management, Economics and Accounting.

Please click on the expandable sections below for more details including the curriculum overview and specification.

Business Studies Curriculum Overview

 

 

Autumn 1

Autumn 2

Spring 1

Spring 2

Summer 1

Summer 2

 

Y10

 

Unit 1 Business activity

1.1 The role of business enterprise and entrepreneurship

 1.2 Business planning 

 1.4 Business aims and objectives 

 

Unit 1 Business activity

1.5 Stakeholders in business 

1.3 Business ownership

1.6 Business growth

Unit 3 Business & People

3.1 The role of human resources

 3.2 Organisational structures and different ways of working

3.4 Recruitment and selection 

 3.7 Employment law

 

 

Unit 3 Business & People

3.5 Motivation and retention 

3.6 Training and development

3.3 Communication in business 

 

 

Unit 2 Marketing in Business 

2.1 The role of marketing 

2.2 Market research

2.3 Market segmentation

Unit 2 Marketing in Business 

2.4 The marketing mix

-Product

-Place

-Price 

-Promotion

 

Autumn 1

Autumn 2

Spring 1

Spring 2

Summer 1

Summer 2

 

Y11

 

Unit 4 Business Operations

4.1 Production processes

 4.2 Quality of goods and services

 4.3 The sales process and customer service 4.6 Working with suppliers

 

 

Unit 4 Business Operations

4.4 Consumer law

4.5 Business location

Unit 5 Business Finance

5.1 The role of the finance function 

5.2 Sources of finance

Unit 5 Business Finance

5.3 Revenue, costs, profit and loss 

5.4 Break-even 

5.5 Cash and cash flow

Unit 5 Business Operations

6.2 The economic climate

 6.3 Globalisation

Unit 5 Business Operations

6.1 Ethical and environmental considerations for Business

Revision

Exams

 

GCSE Specifications

Key Stage 4 Specification 

Subject Leader: 

Mr Beyle

Contact: 

mbeyle@sunburymanor.surrey.sch.uk

Exam Specification:

OCR GCSE (9-1) Business J204

QN Code:

603/0295/1

 

 

Summary of course content

Aspects covered include:

  • Business planning and the role of entrepreneurship, including how to develop as enterprising individual with the ability to think commercially and developing a business plan.
  • Marketing, including advertising and promotion as part of the marketing mix, development of products, setting the best price and selecting location for business.
  • Recruitment, including how businesses get the right staff and keep them working well, different management styles and motivating you workers financially and non-financially.
  • Business structures, including the different ways to set up a business, e.g. sole trader, partnerships, limited companies and franchising as forms of ownership.
  • Finance, including how businesses can gain finance to start up and operate, how they make a profit, financial analysis and profit and loss accounts.
  • Business operations, including how different businesses produce the products we buy.
  • Economic influences on businesses, including how globalisation, economic changes and environmental concerns are influencing business operating around the world.

Assessment

Two exams at the end of the course, each 90 minutes long.

Some questions will be multiple choice, some will be extended writing to test your ability to explain why you made a particular decision.

What type of activities take place in lessons?

The course covers various parts of business activities and economic influences on businesses. 

Activities include:

  • Exam question
  • Research tasks
  • Discussions in pairs and groups
  • Group and paired work activities
  • Problem solving activities
  • Peer and self-evaluations
  • Whole class discussions
  • Presentations
  • Use of MS Office applications in ICT

What type of homework tasks will be set?

Project based tasks and activities. Research and written tasks. Exam practice questions. Independent research.

How will it help me in the future?

  • You will be able to understand the business world which you will enter after finishing school/college/university.
  • You will be able to make informed decisions and put forward arguments to persuade others.
  • You will have the knowledge to help you set up a business of your own.
  • The skills you learn such as evaluation and problem solving will be useful in a number of other subjects.
  • Business can lead on to many vocational qualifications and is a good stepping stone for you in A Level subjects, especially economics, accountancy and of course A Level Business.
  • You will also be developing your written, mathematical and ICT skills.

How will this course build on what I have studied in Year 9?

Whilst this subject is not studied at Key Stage 3 there will be aspects of it that will be familiar as you would have touched on it in subjects such as Geography, History, Maths, English, PSHE, Careers and Citizenship.

What skills will I develop?

As well as developing the essential transferable skills that employers demand, the following strengths are also cultivated through Business Studies:

  • Understanding organisational behaviour and structure;
  • Critical thinking and analytical skills, alongside familiarity with evaluative techniques;
  • A creative problem-solving approach and sound, logical decision-making skills;
  • Effective and persuasive written and oral communication skills;
  • Numeracy and the ability to research, interpret and use business and financial data and information;
  • Self-reliance, initiative and the ability to manage time, projects and resources;
  • Appreciation of the causes and effects of economic changes.