Business
Why Study Business?
Business understanding is important for all students. Those students who chose Business as an option gain much from this experience, and have the opportunity to study particular aspects of business in greater detail. ICT is an integral part of Business Education.
Business Studies is important to those who choose the subject because it will prepare them for different areas of study and future decisions, giving them the necessary skills for post 16 development.
Edexcel GCSE Business Course Overview
Qualification Aims and Objectives
The aims and objectives of this qualification are to enable students to:
- know and understand business concepts, business terminology, business objectives, the integrated nature of business activity and the impact of business on individuals and wider society.
- apply knowledge and understanding to contemporary business issues and to different types and sizes of businesses in local, national and global contexts.
- apply knowledge and understanding to business decision making, including:
- the interdependent nature of business activity, influences on business, business operations, finance, marketing and human resources; and how these interdependencies underpin business decision making.
What will I study?
Theme 1: Investigating Small Business
Theme 1 concentrates on the key business concepts, issues and skills involved in starting and running a small business. It provides a framework for students to explore core concepts through the lens of an entrepreneur setting up a business.
- Topic 1.1 Enterprise and entrepreneurship
- Topic 1.2 Spotting a business opportunity
- Topic 1.3 Putting a business idea into practice
- Topic 1.4 Making the business effective
- Topic 1.5 Understanding external influences on business
How will I be assessed?
Written examination / 1 hour 30 minutes / 50% of qualification / 90 marks
Theme 2: Building a Business
Theme 2 examines how a business develops beyond the start-up phase. It focuses on the key business concepts, issues and decisions used to grow a business, with emphasis on aspects of marketing, operations, finance and human resources. Theme 2 also considers the impact of the wider world on the decisions a business makes as it grows.
- Topic 2.1 Growing the business
- Topic 2.2 Making marketing decision
- Topic 2.3 Making operational decisions
- Topic 2.4 Making financial decisions
- Topic 2.5 Making human resource decisions
How will I be assessed?
Written examination / 1 hour 30 minutes / 50% of qualification / 90 marks
There will also be regular informal assessments throughout the course to assess your individual progress.
Progression Opportunities
- Studying Business provides you with a vast number of options. It builds a strong foundation to continue studying Business A level.
- The knowledge and skills gained from GCSE Business support students’ entry into employment or other training in specific aspects of business, such as apprenticeships and vocational qualifications which focus on more specialised business areas.
- GCSE Business provides a strong foundation for employment, with students progressing, with further training, to a wide range of careers training such as banking, sales, product management and general management.
Edexcel A-Level Business Course overview
The Pearson Edexcel Level 3 Advanced GCE in Business is structured into four themes and consists of three externally examined papers. Students are introduced to business in Themes 1 and 2 through building knowledge of core business concepts and applying them to business contexts to develop a broad understanding of how businesses work.
Breadth and depth of knowledge and understanding, with applications to a wider range of contexts and more complex business information, are developed in Themes 3 and 4, requiring students to take a more strategic view of business opportunities and issues.
Students are encouraged to use an enquiring, critical and thoughtful approach to the study of business, to understand that business behaviour can be studied from a range of perspectives and to challenge assumptions.
A Level Business is a 2-year linear course; which means that what we cover in year one will be tested again at year two and you will be expected to show a greater depth of knowledge than in the first year.
What will I study?
Theme 1: Marketing and People
Students will develop an understanding of:
- meeting customer needs
- the market
- marketing mix and strategy
- managing people
- entrepreneurs and leaders
Theme 3: Business Decisions and Strategy
This theme develops the concepts introduced in Theme 2. Students will develop an understanding of:
- business objectives and strategy
- business growth
- decision making techniques
- influences on business decisions
- assessing competitiveness
- managing change
Theme 2: Managing Business Activities
Students will develop an understanding of:
- raising finance
- financial planning
- managing finance
- resource management
- external influences
Theme 4: Global Business
This theme develops the concepts introduced in Theme 1. Students will develop an understanding of:
- globalisation
- global markets and business expansion
- global marketing
- global industries and companies (multinational corporations)
How will I be Assessed?
Paper 1: Marketing, People and Global Businesses
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Paper 2: Business Activities, Decisions and strategy
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Paper 3: Investigating Business in a Competitive EnvironmentPaper 3 will assess content across all four themes. Questions will be drawn from local, national and global contexts. For Paper 3, there will be a pre-released context document issued in November of the previous year.
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There will also be regular informal assessments and mock tests throughout the course to assess your individual progress.
Progression Opportunities
Students can progress from this qualification to:
- Higher education courses such as business management, business administration, accountancy and finance, human resource management, marketing, retail management, tourism management and international business.
- A wide range of careers ranging from banking, sales, product management and general management to working in public sector organisations or charities.
- Students can move on to university and study accounting and finance, Law, Business management, Economics, Marketing, Public relations, Humans resources and other related subjects.
Entry Requirements
- Grade C in both English and Maths will be required alongside 3 other GCSEs.
