BUSINESS STUDIES
STUDY SUPPORT
GCSE
A Level
We offer business studies at both GCSE and A level at the school. Over the last ten years the department has grown enormously as the subject has proven very popular. We offer a dynamic approach to this fast changing subject and staff within the department have a wide range of experience from within the business world.
A Level
We run the AQA Business Studies course. This is an academic study of the four main areas of business; marketing, finance, human resources and operations management and it also looks at the external influences on business e.g. the economy and environmental issues.
The course is enriched through entry into appropriate external competitions.
The A level is split into four units detailed below:
For more details about the AS course in Business Studies please use the following link: http://web.aqa.org.uk/qual/gce/business_studies_AS_new.php
For more details about the A2 course in Business Studies please use the following link: http://web.aqa.org.uk/qual/gce/business_studies_A2_new.php
The exams are a mixture of case studies, essays and report writing. There is no coursework at A level.
Study skills at A level
It is vital that students are up to date with the business environment in order for them to succeed. Students will be given a wide range of resources via the teaching of the subject. To enhance their performance, however, they may well want to access a wider range of resources. These are listed below:
- Websites such as www.bized.ac.uk or www.tutor2u.co.uk are good for note taking and revision
- Students should read the business section of a good quality newspaper regularly. Periodicals such as The Economist can also be a good source of knowledge
- Keeping abreast of the news via the internet is another option. The newspapers all have their own websites and www.bbc.co.uk is also another good source
- Watch the BBC news and programmes such as The Money Programme, Dragons' Den, Panorama and The Apprentice. This all keeps students interested in the subject.
GCSE
At GCSE we run the IGCSE option.
What are IGCSEs?
IGCSEs are well established and highly respected qualifications. Also known as a Cambridge International Certificate, they are the international equivalent to a GCSE and are studied for by thousands of pupils from countries around the world. For our students the benefits of studying for this qualification are manifold. The courses are generally more academic in nature than many standard GCSE’s and therefore can provide a program of study that is broader in scope and more challenging in application, thereby providing students with a better preparation for their studies at A-level. More information about IGCSEs is available at http://www.cie.org.uk/qualifications/academic/middlesec/igcse/overview
IGCSE Business Studies
The IGCSE in Business Studies is an exciting option that uses real life case studies and activities in conjunction with business theories to solve problems. The subject involves looking at a range of problems a business has to solve and the decisions it has to make. These decisions relate to six key areas.
The course is assessed solely by terminal exams; there is no coursework.
IGCSE Activities
During the three year course, the subject currently offers a number of exciting enrichment activities. In Year 9 you will be involved in a mini share project where you invest a fictional £100,000 into the stock market and undertake a challenging marketing project. The skills learnt are then put to excellent use in Year 10 where students will enter the national Student Investor competition. In Year 11, students have the opportunity to use all the skills they have learnt throughout the course when they participate in the “Wilson’s Dragons’ Den” competition. We also enrich the three year course with an understanding of some GCSE Level Economics. This enables boys to make a more informed choice at A Level between the very popular choices of Business Studies and Economics.
IGCSE Study Skills
As with A level, students should develop a real interest in the business world to help their understanding. Students will be given a wide range of resources via the teaching of the subject. They may well want to access a wider range of resources. These are listed below;
- Students should read the business section of a newspaper regularly. Periodicals such as The Economist can also be a good source of knowledge
- Keeping abreast of the news via the internet is another option. The newspapers all have their own websites and www.bbc.co.uk is also another good source
- Watch the BBC news and programmes such as The Money Programme, Dragons' Den, Panorama and The Apprentice. This all keeps students interested in the subject.