Contact Teacher: Mrs C Smerdon-Corp, Business Team Leader
Exam Board: AQA
Vision
Business is a fascinating and dynamic subject which teaches pupils the principles and theories behind business management and the practices behind running a successful business. The Business curriculum at Bishop Luffa is intended to provide students with the knowledge and skills required to become outstanding employees or indeed employers, and to allow students to reach their potential with an engaging curriculum. At Bishop Luffa we help to develop the range of thinking and learning skills necessary for examination success, but we go beyond that. We strive to create the innovators of the future, by providing every student with the opportunity to develop 21st Century employability skills to live life in all its fullness by developing real world, enterprising, and employability skills for tomorrow's leaders and to prepare our students for an ever changing and challenging business environment.
Business Learning Journey
This is a visual representation of how students' knowledge and skills develop through the Business curriculum.
(click on the image below to view a larger version)
Why study Business?
While it is obvious that those planning on working in most industries and prospective entrepreneurs should study business, all people should learn as much about business operations as possible. This includes those in the scientific, medical, education and government sectors, along with those who are simply consumers of products and services. Becoming knowledgeable about how businesses operate helps increase your competitiveness in the job market and you to understand how businesses and governments drive our world economies.
A-level Business can lead to degree courses in business, management, accounting, finance and other related subjects. Business A-level is highly desirable for many careers whether they are directly linked to business or will be useful to complement another career path.
Course details
Students study a wide range of topics applied to different businesses. The aim is for students to learn how to analyse a range of business situations and make effective decisions.
Topics:
1. What is business?
2. Managers, leadership and decision making
3. Decision making to improve marketing performance
4. Decision making to improve operational performance
5. Decision making to improve financial performance
6. Decision making to improve human resource performance
7. Analysing the strategic position of a business
8. Choosing strategic direction
9. Strategic methods: how to pursue strategies
10. Managing strategic change
How the course is taught and assessed
Learning is through the consideration and investigation of real business situations and problems. The emphasis is on effective and realistic solutions. Pupils are encouraged to read news articles and watch and listen to business programmes on the media. They will sometimes have the opportunity to visit businesses and hear business speakers.
Paper 1
What’s assessed? - Any content from topics 1–10 (Multiple choice, short answer and essay questions)
Written exam: 2 hours (100 marks 33.3% of A-level)
Paper 2
What’s assessed? - Any content from topics 1-10 (Data response)
Written exam: 2 hours (100 marks 33.3% of A-level)
Paper 3
What’s assessed? - Any content from topics 1–10 (Compulsory case study)
Written exam: 2 hours (100 marks 33.3% of A-level)
Entry requirements
Mathematics and English GCSEs at grade 5 or above. Business is a varied course with many transferable skills, and it is not a requirement to have studied GCSE Business Studies, but if you have a grade 5 will be required. Anyone with a genuine interest in business structures, ethics, the economy, finance, marketing, human resources and management will enjoy the course.