Business & Economics

Business KS4

Exam Board: AQA

Overview of the course:
The aim of this course is to give students the opportunity to explore real business issues and how businesses work. Students will consider the practical application of business concepts. The units provide opportunities to explore theories and concepts in the most relevant way, through the context of events in the business and economic world. The knowledge and skills gained from this specification will provide you with a firm foundation for further study.

Students who choose this option should appreciate that the work is academically demanding. They should, however, be aware that the subject is rewarding, stimulating and constantly changing to keep up-to-date with current developments. There is a very strong emphasis on extended written work and financial analysis, much of which are analytical and evaluative in nature. Therefore students will need to work hard from the start to ensure full understanding of the concepts and their application. Students will be expected to demonstrate not only knowledge but also an understanding of how concepts and theories allow them to recognise, select and organise information and apply it to solve problems.

There is a substantial amount of written work, so students need to be prepared to work in depth on their homework and in class activities. Finance and numerical work is a large part of the course, so students must be prepared for this element. There are regular formal tests and extended writing tests.

Topics studied and assessment methods:
Students work towards 2 externally examined units. There is no coursework/controlled assessment:

Paper 1: Influence of operations (production) and HRM (Human resource Management) on business activity

1 hour 45 minutes exam (50% of GCSE)

Exam contains 2 case studies with extended questions, plus some multiple choice theory questions.

Topics:

Business in the real world
Influences on business
Business operations and human resources

Paper 2: Influences of marketing and finance on business activity

1 hour 45 minutes exam (50% of GCSE)

Exam contains 2 case studies with extended questions, plus some multiple choice theory questions.

Topics:

Business in the real world
Influences on business
Marketing and Finance

What can students do at the end of the course?

The qualification will lead to a variety of careers in business, including marketing, people management, accounts and production, as well as further courses in Business, for example A-Level Business or Advanced Vocational courses, for example, BTEC Business.

How can parents support?
Students should be learning the taught topics at home every week using their class notes and revision guide (which should be used from the start of the course). Additional material is available on Google classroom and study websites such as Sam learning & www.getrevising.co.uk/

Students should be learning and be memorising key vocabulary weekly, therefore parents can test them on these.

Students will also be set extended writing homework to help for their important extended questions in their exams. These contribute to a significant part of their final marks in each exam and so are vital they are practised from the start of the course. They will be testing the student’s ability to show business knowledge, application to the case study, analysis of the effects and evaluation (justified judgements on decisions made with an awareness of wider influences). Parents can look at the feedback given to these and ensure their child re-attempts the work acting on the feedback given.

Parents should encourage their child to attend the weekly lunch achievement support session.

Students should be spending 2 hours a week at home; learning the topics, memorising vocabulary, practising questions and past papers as well as completing the written homework tasks. This subject is completely new to the students and therefore they need to spend considerable time on weekly study.

KS5 Business

Course	BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Business
Examining Board	Pearson
Specification	Link
Why study this subject?	One reason for studying BTEC Business is that it gives students a clear route to employment. Today’s employers are looking for confident work-ready candidates who have the practical knowledge and technical skills you can get from a BTEC course. BTEC stands for ‘Business and Technician Education Council’, these are vocational and work-related courses. The BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Business is the equivalent of one A Level, it is a 2 year course which consists of a variety of different units that enable students to get ready for the real world of work. Students will complete assignments and examinations in both years. They will research and explore businesses and learn how financial information is produced and used by businesses to analyse their performance. Students will research organisations they are familiar with with and draw their own conclusions as to how they operate, why they operate and how they can improve their performance. The BTEC gives students practical ways of thinking bringing real world situations to the classroom. The BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Business is for those students who enjoy some freedom in doing their own research and working at their own pace, however, passing the two examinations in Personal and business finance, and also Marketing is key to their success.
Year 1	Exploring Business In this introductory unit, learners study the purposes of different businesses, their structure, the effect of the external environment, and how they need to be dynamic and innovative to survive. In this unit, students will gain an overview of the key ingredients for business success, how businesses are organised, how they communicate, the characteristics of the environment in which they operate, and how this shapes them and their activities. You will also look at the importance of innovation and enterprise to the success and survival of businesses, with the associated risks and benefits. Personal and Business Finance This unit includes aspects of both personal and business finance. Personal finance involves the understanding of why money is important and how managing money can help prevent future financial difficulties. It is vital students understand the financial decisions they will need to take throughout their life and how risk can affect their choices. This unit will also give students an insight into where they can get financial advice and support. The business finance aspects of the unit introduce students to accounting terminology, the purpose and importance of business accounts and the different sources of finance available to businesses. Planning tools, such as cash flow forecasts and break-even, will be prepared and analysed. Measuring the financial performance of a business will require them to prepare and analyse statements of comprehensive income and statements of financial position.
Year 2	Developing a Marketing Campaign Marketing is a dynamic field central to the success of any business. Students will gain an understanding of how a marketing campaign is developed. They will explore different stages of the process that a business goes through when developing its campaign and develop their own campaign for a given product/service. Students will examine the marketing aims and objectives for existing products/services and understand the importance of relevant, valid and appropriate research in relation to customers’ needs and wants. They will use given market research data and other information to make recommendations about the type of marketing campaign that a business should undertake. To complete the assessment task within this unit, students will need to draw on their learning from across their programme. Recruitment and Selection Recruiting the right people is essential to the success of a business. It is important that the processes and procedures involved in recruitment and selection meet the needs of the business and comply with current regulations. Students will learn that successful recruitment is key to maintaining the success of a business, as people are often considered to be the most valued resource. They will explore the various selection tools and the enhanced use of technology in this area. Businesses with an effective recruitment process in place are more likely to make successful appointments. In a competitive labour market this is a major advantage and will support business success. This unit gives students the opportunity, through role play, to take part in selection interviews. They will need to be organised and prepared so that they demonstrate their communication skills in this work-related competence.
Assessment Year 1	3 assignments - distributed and completed throughout the year - Internally assessed 1 Exam
Assessment Year 2	2 assignments - distributed and completed throughout the year - Internally assessed 1 Exam
Next steps - Careers/HE courses	You have the opportunity to either go to university or get an apprenticeship or get a job. The following career paths are options you may decide to take. Accounting Advertising Economics Entrepreneurship Finance General business Global Business Healthcare Management Hospitality Management Human Resources Information Technology Management International Business Marketing Public Relations Real Estate Social Media Taxation Supply Chain Management If a degree is not what you want to do, apprenticeships are also available: Associate Project Manager Business Admin Apprenticeship HR support Apprentice Following business organisation have apprenticeship programs that are suitable: Aldi, Nestle, GSK, Microsoft, NHS, Barclays, Boots, KPMG
Suggested links to resources	www.Time2resources.co.uk www.senecalearning.com

Course	A-Level Business
Examining Board	AQA
Specification	Link
Why study this subject?	Through Business Studies A-level, you'll engage with the world of business through the context of current business developments and real business situations. You'll learn how management, leadership and decision-making can improve performance in marketing, operational, financial and human resources. The Business A-Level course focuses on a problem solving approach to business designed to help students understand the nature and working of business organisations, looking at real business in the real world. Much of the learning is based around business case studies and focusing on how students can use their business knowledge to determine the success of a business. The aim is to encourage students to develop a critical understanding of different businesses, the context in which they operate, the markets they serve, and ultimately recommend actions that businesses should take to be successful. You will be able to develop your knowledge in raising and managing finance and measuring a business’s performance. With this information, you’ll understand the importance of using resources efficiently, so goods and services can be delivered to a high quality.
Key Content	What is business? Managers, leadership and decision making Decision making to improve marketing performance Decision making to improve operational performance Decision making to improve financial performance Decision making to improve human resource performance Analysing the strategic position of a business (A-level only) Choosing strategic direction (A-level only) Strategic methods: how to pursue strategies (A-level only) Managing strategic change (A-level only)
Assessment AS-	2 Exams
Assessment A-Level	3 Exams
Next steps - Careers/HE courses	If you’re looking to go onto a business degree, then an A-Level in Business Studies is perfect for you. It will allow you to achieve those all-important UCAS points you need for entry into university. You will be able to study any degree you are interested in such as: Accounting Advertising Economics Entrepreneurship Finance General business Global Business Healthcare Management Hospitality Management Human Resources Information Technology Management International Business Marketing Public Relations Real Estate Social Media Taxation Supply Chain Management The list is endless. A business A-Level opens many doors for all students. If a degree is not what you want to do, apprenticeships are also available: Associate Project Manager Business Admin Apprenticeship HR support Apprentice
Suggested links to resources	www.Time2resources.co.uk www.senecalearning.com

KS5 Economics

Course	A-Level Economics
Examining Board	AQA
Specification	Link
Why study this subject?	Economics is not simply all about numbers. It is the study of the world around us from a social, financial and cultural perspective, gaining an understanding of economic theories and interrelationships between macro and micro economic issues. A level Economics is divided into two parts: Microeconomics and Macroeconomics. Microeconomics explores the concept of an ideal free market economy, based on perfect competition, and compares it with the complexity and inefficiency of real modern market phenomena. Macroeconomics looks at economics from a national point of view and explores themes like Inequality, Unemployment and Immigration, Economic Growth and Trade/Budget deficits. It also considers the trade-offs that governments face as they try to resolve problems such as the financial crisis of 2008. As you learn more about economics, you will develop good analysis skills and will be able to pick out key information from statistics and text. You will learn how to use data to draw conclusions and make informed decisions. Analysis and evaluation skills are highly sought after by employers and you'll be able to apply your acquired skills to real-life situations in business
Key Content	Individuals, firms, markets and market failure -Micro Economics Economic methodology and the economic problem Individual economic decision making Price determination in a competitive market Production, costs and revenue Perfect competition, imperfectly competitive markets and monopoly The labour market The distribution of income and wealth: poverty and inequality The market mechanism, market failure and government intervention in markets The national and international economy -Macro Economics The measurement of macroeconomic performance How the macroeconomy works : the circular flow of income, AD/AS analysis, and related concepts Economic performance Financial markets and monetary policy Fiscal policy and supply-side policies The international economy
Assessment AS-	2 Exams
Assessment A-Level	3 Exams
Next steps - Careers/HE courses	Economics can lead to a wide range of careers in Economics and Finance-related professions including: Accountant, Actuarial Analyst, Chartered Accountant, Data Analyst, Economist, Finance and Banking, Financial Risk Analyst, Financial Planner, Forensic Accountant, Investment Analyst, Statistician, Stockbroker. In addition, the knowledge and skills learned would also be useful for careers including: Actuary, Business Analysis and Development, the Civil Service, Data Science, Diplomacy, Economic and/or Political Journalism, Government and Politics, Management Consultancy, Policy Development and Management, Quantity Surveying.
Suggested links to resources	www.Time2resources.co.uk www.senecalearning.com