Business Studies
KS4 Business: GCSE Business (J204)
Exam Board: OCR
Intent:
This GCSE course aims to give students a thorough understanding of all functional areas in a business while also starting to understand the external environment and how this affects a businesses decisions also. Students learn all about business and how they would start up and run a business in the future, should they wish.
We encourage students to read the news and be active in their learning in terms of business activity which we can them apply in our lessons, making it more real. This course is an academic route but also allows students to build their skills along the way, understanding the need for effective communication and interview skills, as examples.
Students follow a busy learning journey over two years which is examined at the end of Year 11 in 2 written exams.
The content is modular in nature with an understanding that all functions are entirely interdependent.
Course Content
1. Business Activity
This topic examines the role of enterprise and the fundamentals of business set up, such as legal structures. Students will also understand who key stakeholders are why, sometimes, business aims and objectives are in conflict of one another.
2. Marketing
Students will learn how and why businesses communicate with their customers while learning about the 4P’s.
3. People
A larger topic focused on the critical success factor of most businesses, their people! Students will learn the importance of motivation, recruitment & selection, retention and employment law, as examples.
4. Operations
In this topic students will learn about the supply chain and how this can affect the business. Quality is a key area which determines price, directly linking to the Marketing department. Students will learn how products are processed and why businesses locate themselves in a given location.
5. Finance
OCR Finance is lighter in content than other boards, meaning this topic is more accessible for all. Calculations of profitability and break even will be taught and students will be able to analyse financial data to make decisions in context of different businesses.
6. Influences on business
A smaller topic looking at how the external environment shapes business decision making, such as ethical practices and government policy.
7. Interdependent nature of business
The final topic concludes all previous topics and links how interdependent they all are, and only by working together can a business be successful.
Delivery
In Year 10 we hit the ground running in September and start immediately with topic 1. We cover some basic Finance to ensure students understand the principle of profit in business which underpins all business activities.
In Year 10 we cover topics 1,2,3 and 6 meaning students have a good pace of learning which is supported out of class with homework to practice what is learned in class. Activities are set to support students learning of the theory and practice the skills needed to successful in business GCSE.
In Y11 we start with Topic 4, Operations and move onto completing Finance, Topic 6, with more detailed financial principles such as cash flow forecasting.
Assessment
Business GCSE is assessed by examination in two papers covering all content. Paper 1 examines Topic 1-3 and Paper 2 examines Topic 4-7.
Both papers are a combination of multiple choice questions followed by multiple case studies and written responses up to 9 mark response essays. Business students are expected to demonstrate both quantitative and qualitative skills and assessed both in written essays and calculations. Data response questions will also require calculations.
Homework is a critical success factor and is set weekly which links directly to the content delivered. It may be research or exam practice, but all work set is designed to give opportunities for practice.
Where will Business take you post-16?
GCSE Business will lead really well into A-Level Business and Economics, as an example. Some students have gone on to study Business after their A-Levels at University and College. Business can also take students into an apprenticeship at post 16 or post 18 as the content and skills developed over the course are most relevant to business generally.
A-Level Business Studies
Examination Board: AQA
Intent
A-level business studies aims to equip students with a critical understanding of organisations, the markets they serve and the strategies they use to compete in the UK and in the global economy. The first year of the course provides students with detailed exploration of functional decision making in a dynamic external environment before moving on to look at strategic decisions and organizational change in the second year. The course is designed to encourage students to engage with real world examples to bring the concepts to life and embed learning within the world around them. The course involves rigorous analysis of the internal workings and management of businesses, and detailed exploration of business decision making in a dynamic external environment characterised by risk and uncertainty.
Candidates will undertake four units as outlined below
- 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
- Choosing strategic direction
- Strategic methods
- Managing strategic change
Assessment
Three two hour written examinations, each making up 33.3% of the A-level
Careers and Progression
Business studies helps you to develop a variety of employability skills such as effective communication, teamwork and critical thinking skills. Career opportunities include accounting, advertising, investment banking, corporate law, retail management, human resources, marketing, strategic buying to name a few. Business studies will provide you with the experience and skills to access good business apprenticeships as well as facilitating further study at degree level.
Entrance Requirements
Minimum requirement: 6 GCSEs Grades 9-4 (or equivalent), including English language and mathematics; Grade 5 business studies or Grade 5 English language if business not taken