BUSINESS

Our Vision

Business encourages students to use their knowledge of ‘real life’ business situations and apply them to theory studied during lessons, enabling them to become informed and confident consumers, employees, and entrepreneurs.

Intent

The Business department at Alderbrook aims to instil into our students both our interest in and enjoyment of the courses we offer, as well as increase their awareness and understanding of the topics and issues covering the wider world. We believe that we are preparing students to work in the ever-increasing competitive world.

The programme of study in Business focusses on students applying their knowledge and understanding to business decision making. In planning our curriculum, we create opportunities to embed content and business skills on a continuous basis whilst introducing new concepts. We do this to support students in being able to build a solid foundation of learning. For example, we introduce business-based maths in years 10 to equip students with a basic understanding of revenue, costs, and profit this then leads to a more analytical understanding when we study analysing the financial performance of a business in Year 11. Much of the assessment material is based on real business situations. By examining and thinking critically about real business situations as they study the subject, students will gain an insight into different contexts which will help them to develop employability skills for the future.

The specifications we have chosen are aimed at giving students the opportunity to explore real business issues and how businesses work enabling students to access and engage with the world of business.

 

The Business Department is made up of a number of experienced teachers:

  • Mrs Fisher
  • Mrs McDonald
  • Mr Wade

Implementation

Key Stage 4

Exam board: AQA

The course is split into the following areas:

  • Business in the real world (covered in year 10 and revisited in year 11)
  • Influences on business (covered in year 10 and revisited in year 11)
  • Business operations (covered in year 10 and revisited in year 11)
  • Human Resources (covered in year 10&11 and revisited in year 11)
  • Marketing (covered in year 11)
  • Finance (covered in year 11)

 The course takes an integrated approach with students making links between these subject areas.

The GCSE is examined by two written examinations of 1 hour 45 minutes, both papers are worth 50% of the final grade. There is combination of multiple choice, short questions, data response and case study questions.

 

Key Stage 5

Exam board: AQA

BUSINESS 

This is a ‘real life’ subject, it helps students to become good decision makers and to develop managerial skills. Students will use a range of real business examples to develop their analytical problem-solving skills as well as developing valuable evaluative skills, all of which are well sought after in a wide range of careers.

  The following topic areas are covered:

  • What is business?
  • Managers, leadership and decision making
  • Marketing management
  • Operational management
  • Financial management
  • Human resource management
  • Analysing the strategic position of a business
  • Choosing strategic direction
  • Strategic methods: how to pursue strategies
  • Managing strategic change

The A level course is examined by three written examinations of 2 hours, all papers are worth 1/3 of the final grade. There is combination of multiple choice, short questions, data response and case study questions.

 

Applied Business

This qualification is designed to cover the fundamental business and entrepreneurial knowledge and skills associated with working in a business enterprise. The learner will undertake a programme of assessment designed to examine not only their knowledge and understanding of business, but also the way in which this knowledge and understanding can be applied to shape their practical skills in thinking and realising their own business plans. For those learners who wish their learning to be practical and active whilst making use of their own business mind-set, then Applied Business is a highly relevant qualification.

  • Six units of work (each worth 16.6%)
  • 50% external assessment and 50% internal assessment
  • Exam sessions January and June
  • Grading: The units are graded Pass, Merit or Distinction.
  • The overall qualification is graded as P, M, D, D*

Why choose to study Business?

Business is a changing subject, so students have the opportunity to study what is happening at the moment. It gives students the opportunity to develop a wide range of skills including, problem solving, decision making, application of numeracy, collaborative thinking, resilience, analytical and evaluative skills. Students have the opportunity to study a wide range of businesses, including small and large businesses, multinationals as well as businesses in several different industries.

A wide number of teaching techniques are used during the course that give students the opportunity to learn in a variety of ways.

 

Extra-Curricular Opportunities

The department offers its students the opportunity where possible to work with external organisations. For instance BNP Paribas working with 6ht form students on ‘Ethical Sources of Finance’ and Teach First who spend time with KS4 students engaging in a ‘Virtual Careers Event’.

 

KS4 and 5 Interventions

An opportunity after school by invitation for students to have bespoke guided tutoring and the support of their teacher in small groups.

Skills for Success and Career Opportunities

Students who have studied Business at A-level could study a wide number of business-related courses such as Business Management, Marketing, Human Resources, International Business, Business and Economics at university. Students may prefer to seek an apprenticeship opportunity in a business where their knowledge of business can be used.

    Other qualities and key skills that can be gained from studying Business:

  • A range of transferable skills such as teamwork, research, and communication
  • Numeracy skills by being able to use/interpret business and financial data
  • Self-reliance, initiative, and the ability to manage time when completing tasks
  • The opportunity for personal growth and engagement in learning
  • Entrepreneurial skills
  • Importance of leadership skills in the workplace
  • A range of skills including decision making and creative problem-solving
  • Critical thinking

 

For further information

Please contact Mrs Fisher, Curriculum Leader for Business, Computing ICT/Creative iMedia and H&S Care.