BUSINESS STUDIES KEY STAGE 4 CURRICULUM INFO
GCSE Business Studies
What is the qualification?
One full GCSE awarded at grades 9 – 1.
What will I be doing on the course? How will it be structured?
This course is a broad-based qualification providing a practical introduction to business. This qualification will encourage you to be inspired, moved and challenged by following a broad, coherent, satisfying and worthwhile course of study and to gain an insight into related sectors. The GCSE will prepare you to make informed decisions about further learning opportunities and career choices.
The course is made up of two main parts:
Business 1: Business activity, marketing and people (50% of total mark)
• Business activity
• Marketing
• People
Business 2: Operations, finance and influences on business (50% of total mark)
• Operations
• Finance
• Influences on businesses
• The independent nature of business
This GCSE qualification in business studies enables you to actively engage in the study of business to develop as effective and independent students and as critical and reflective thinkers with enquiring minds. The course is taught using up to date case studies to encourage an enquiring, critical approach to distinguish facts and opinions and to build arguments and make informed judgements. Trips and guest speakers are used to develop and allow you to apply your knowledge, understanding and skills to contemporary issues in a range of local, national and global contexts.
Assessment
Year 10
Autumn Term: In class test
Summer Term: In class test
Year 11
Autumn Term: In class test
Spring Term: Mock examinations
Summer Term: Terminal examination
What skills do I need to develop to be successful at this course?
This course supports progression to further study in business related courses at post sixteen. You can go on to study A Level Business or study a vocational course which is equivalent to A level such as the BTEC Level 3 Award in Business.
What could I use this qualification for?
This qualification will allow you to go on and study an art based course at Post 16 and it will also help you enhance your research skills, analytical skills, independent and creative thinking skills and time management skills – all of which are very useful whatever courses you go on to study.
Careers in Art and Design include; artists, illustrator, fashion photographer, teacher, graphic designer, animator and many more.
BTEC Business Studies
The BTEC L1/2 qualification comprises of 4 units of work:
Unit 1 - The core unit is coursework completed in Year 10
Unit 2 - an external finance exam is completed in Year 10
Unit 3 - marketing coursework completed in Year 11
Unit 4 - recruitment coursework completed in Year 11
The vocational BTEC programme is aimed at students who want to have a coursework element as part of their studies.