Business Studies and Economics help prepare students for a variety of university courses as well as being highly topical in a world dominated by business and the global economy. Those contemplating careers in finance, banking, accountancy, law, marketing, management, retail, or in any general business environment, will find our courses viewed favourably by employers and of great value in preparation for the world beyond full-time education.
Year 10 GCSE (Edexcel)
Topics to be covered during the Year 10 GCSE Business course include;
Unit 1: Introduction to Small Business (multiple choice exam worth 25% of the total GCSE)
- Understanding customer needs
- Market mapping
- Competition
- Added value
- Franchising
- Enterprise
- Thinking creatively
- Invention and innovation
- Taking a calculated risk
- Revenues, costs and profits
- Forecasting cash flow
- The business plan
- Obtaining finance
- Customer focus
- The marketing mix
- Limited liability
- Start-up legal and tax issues
- Customer satisfaction
- Recruiting, training and motivating
- Market demand and supply
- The impact of interest rates
- Changes in exchange rates
- The business cycle
- Business decisions and stakeholders
Unit 2: Investigating Small Business (Controlled Assessment worth 25% of the total GCSE)
Year 11 GCSE Business (Edexcel)
Topics to be covered during the Year 11 GCSE Business course include;
Unit 3: Building a Business (written exam worth 50% of the total GCSE)
- Marketing
- Market research
- Product trail and repeat purchase
- Product life cycle
- Branding and differentiation
- Successful marketing mix
- Design and research development
- Managing stock
- Managing quality
- Cost-effective operations and competitiveness
- Effective customer service
- Consumer protection laws
- Improving cash flow
- Improving profit
- Break-even charts
- Break-even analysis
- Financing growth
- Organisational structures
- Motivation theory
- Communication
- Remuneration
- Ethics in business
- Environmental issues
- Economic issues affecting international trade
- Government and the EU
Additional information and resources:
1) http://www.edexcel.com/migrationdocuments/GCSE%20New%20GCSE/GCSE_Business_Spec_2012.pdf
Year 10 BTEC Business (Edexcel)
Topics to be covered during the Year 10 BTEC Business course include;
Unit 1: Enterprise in the Business World (coursework worth 25% of the total BTEC)
- Finding information
- Factors to consider in the current business environment
- Trends affecting business
- Size of business and type
- How business ideas can be successful
- Business ideas
- Assessing the suitability of a business idea
- Producing an initial plan for a business idea
- Choice of business format
- Sources of help and support in developing a new business
- Business model
Unit 2: Finance for Business (on screen test worth 25% of the total BTEC)
- Business costs
- Revenue
- Expenditure
- Profit and loss
- Break even
- Budgeting
- Cash flow forecasting
- Gross and net profit
- Income statements
- Statement of financial position
- Making a business more successful
Year 11 BTEC Business (Edexcel)
Topics to be covered during the Year 11 BTEC Business course include;
Unit 3: Promoting a Brand (coursework worth 25% of the total BTEC)
- The importance of branding to businesses
- Promotion in businesses
- Elements of the promotional mix and their purpose
- Promotional activities in business
- Branding methods and techniques
- Promoting a brand
Unit 8: Recruitment, Selection and Employment (coursework worth 25% of the total BTEC)
- Organisational structures and functional areas
- Job roles and responsibilities
- Recruitment
- Job description and person specification
- Applying for jobs
- Job interviews
- Personal audit
- Career development
Additional information and resources:
5) http://www.hoddereducation.co.uk/Product?Product=9781444186956
6) http://www.hoddereducation.co.uk/Product?Product=9781444186802
7) http://www.hoddereducation.co.uk/Product?Product=9781444186772
8) http://www.hoddereducation.co.uk/Product?Product=9780340991909
Year 12 CTEC Business – Level 2 (OCR)
Topics to be covered during the Year 12 CTEC Business course could include;
- Business Purpose (coursework)
- Business Organisation (coursework)
- Financial Forecasting for Business (coursework)
- People in Organisation (coursework)
- Business Ethics (coursework)
- Business Communication Through Documentation (coursework)
All coursework units are weighted equally and are equivalent to 2 GCSEs grade A-C. An overall grade of at least a ‘Merit’ is needed if students wish to progress to Level 3 courses.
Additional information and resources:
1) http://www.ocr.org.uk/Images/83094-centre-handbook.pdf
2) http://www.ocr.org.uk/Images/139904-level-2-unit-01-business-purposes.pdf
3) http://www.ocr.org.uk/Images/139905-level-2-unit-02-business-organisations.pdf
4) http://www.ocr.org.uk/Images/139906-level-2-unit-03-financial-forecasting-for-business.pdf
5) http://www.ocr.org.uk/Images/139907-level-2-unit-04-people-in-organisations.pdf
6) http://www.ocr.org.uk/Images/139915-level-2-unit-12-business-ethics.pdf
7) http://www.ocr.org.uk/Images/139910-level-2-unit-07-business-communication-through-documentation.pdf
Year 12 and 13 BTEC Business – Level 3 (Edexcel)
The BTEC Business courses is worth 1, 2 or 3 A-Levels depending on whether it is taken as a single, double or triple option. The single option would be 6 units of coursework, the double option would be 12 units of coursework and the triple option would be 18 units of coursework. It has been designed to give students a ‘hands on’ practical approach to learning Business Studies. The course is assessed through 100% coursework.
The course will cover most aspects of how businesses are run and managed. A successful student will be an organised independent learner who is prepared to spend a lot of time researching topics and businesses.
Topics to be covered during the Year 12 and Year 13 Business course could include;
- The Business Environment
- Business Resources
- Introduction to Marketing
- Business Communication
- Business Accounting
- Creative Product Promotion
- Market Research in Business
- Recruitment and Selection in Business
- Developing Planning for a Career in Business
- Human Resource Management in Business
- Managing a Business Event
- Developing Teams in Business
- Understanding retailing
- Visual Merchandising in Retail
- The impact OF Communication Technology on Business
- Website Design Strategy
- Starting a Small Business
- Understanding Business Ethics
Additional information and resources:
4) http://www.collins.co.uk/product/9780007418473/BTEC+National+Business+-+Student+Textbook
Year 12 and Year 13 Economics (AQA)
The Economic A-Level course is designed to equip students with a knowledge and appreciation of one of the most relevant topics in society today – The Economy; what is going on, why has it happened and when will things improve.
Economics is 100% exam assessed and consists of two exams at the end of Year 12 and two at the end of Year 13.
Topics to be covered during the AS Economics course include;
Unit 1 – Markets and Market Failure (written exam worth 25% of A-level or 50% of AS)
The economic problem
- The allocation of resources in competitive markets
- Production and efficiency
- Market failure and government intervention in the market
Unit 2 – The National Economy (written exam worth 25% of A-level or 50% of AS)
- The measurement of macroeconomic performance
- How the macroeconomy works
- AD/AS analysis
- The circular flow of Income and related concepts
- Economic performance and macroeconomic policy.
Topics to be covered during the A2 Economics course include;
Unit 3 – Business Economics and the Distribution of Income (written exam worth 25% of A-level)
- Objectives of the firm
- Why do firms grow
- Revenue of the firm
- Costs of the firm
- Efficiency
- Profit
- Barriers to entry and exit
- Market concentration
- What determines the behaviour of firms
- How does the threat of competition affect a firm’s behaviour
- Government intervention in markets to maintain competition
Unit 4 – The National and International Economy (written exam worth 25% of A-level)
- Globalisation
- Trade
- Protectionism
- Balance of payments account
- Exchange rate policies
- Competitiveness
- Absolute and relative poverty
- Differences between growth and development
- Evaluations of fiscal, monetary and supply side policies.
Additional information and resources:
1) http://filestore.aqa.org.uk/subjects/specifications/alevel/AQA-2140-W-SP-14.PDF
5) http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/economics/
6) http://www.hoddereducation.co.uk/Product?Product=9781444148244
7) http://www.hoddereducation.co.uk/Product?Product=9781444148275
8) http://www.hoddereducation.co.uk/Product?Product=9781444148305
9) http://www.hoddereducation.co.uk/Product?Product=9781444148336
