- Departments - Business Studies
Members of Department
Miss C. O’Gorman (Head of Department)
Miss M. Hughes
Key Stage 4
KS4 students follow the CCEA Specification in Business Studies.
Year 11
Unit 1 – Starting a business. In this unit students study how a business is created and the importance of the role of the entrepreneur.
Unit 1 will be a written examination of 1 hour 30 minutes.
This examination is worth 40% of the overall GCSE qualification.
This examination will be taken at the end of Year 11.
Unit 2 – Business Development. This unit covers the following three themes:
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Human Resources
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Business Growth
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Finance
The written examination for Unit 2 will be of 1 hour 30 minutes.
This examination paper is worth 40% of the overall GCSE qualification.
Unit 3 - Controlled Assessment – Students will complete one task which is worth 20% of the overall GCSE qualification.
OCN – Level 2 Certificate in Skills for Business
The OCN Level 2 Certificate in Skills for Business is designed to provide learners with the Business skills required to function successfully in the work and wider environment.
It is a vocational qualification which is the equivalent to a grade B at GCSE.
Content and Assessment
This course is 100% coursework - there are no exams.
Units studied are:
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Business Locations
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Health and Safety for a Business
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Understanding Financial Statements, Ratios and Breakeven
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Understanding Sources of Finance and Cash Flow
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Understanding Recruitment and Selection
Key Stage 5
Year 13 students will be entered for BTEC Level 3 Extended Certificate in Business (RQF)
There are 4 units of work – 2 in Year 13 and 2 in Year 14.
Year 13
Unit 1: Exploring business
Evidence for assessment will be generated through a portfolio produced by the students.
In this unit the students explore the features of different businesses; how they are organised and communicate; the characteristics of the environment in which they operate and how this shapes the business and their activities.
Unit 3: Personal and Business Finance
In this unit students will study both personal and business finance. Personal finance involves the understand of why money is important and how managing your money can help prevent future financial difficulties. The business finance aspects of the unit introduce the students to accounting terminology, the purpose and importance of business accounts and the different sources of finance available to businesses.
Unit 3 will be a written examination of 2 hours.
This examination will take place at the end of Year 13.
Year 14
Unit 2: Developing a Marketing Campaign
In this unit students will gain skills relating to, and an understanding of, how a marketing campaign is developed. They will learn about marketing principles, concepts and influences on marketing campaigns. Students will be able to plan and develop a marketing campaign with the ability to adapt in light of changing circumstances.
This unit is externally assessed and will take place in January of year 14.
Unit 8: Recruitment and Selection Process
In this unit the students will explore how the recruitment process is carried out in a business. The unit gives learners the opportunity to participate in selection interviews and review their performance.
Evidence for assessment will be generated through work produced by the students.
Each unit is awarded a Pass, Merit or Distinction grade.
Points are then totalled at the end of Year 14 to determine the overall grade for this qualification.
Distinction*, Distinction. Merit and Pass grades are awarded at the end of Year 14.
Career Opportunities
Business Studies is a valuable subject. It develops the skills necessary to succeed at university. Studying Business Studies opens the way to many degree and career opportunities including Accountancy, Law, Interactive Multimedia Design, Communications, Advertising and Marketing, Property Investment, Teaching, Business Management and many more. Business Studies also enables pupils to progress into the world of work with the skills and knowledge needed to run a business.