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Business Studies is a popular subject to study and deals with the management of business and of making money. As well as exploring business theories and terminology and concepts, students will learn to apply these to relevant events in the business and economic world.
They will also study different businesses ranging from small enterprises to large multinationals and businesses operating in local, national and global contexts. Students will also need to demonstrate their understanding of business issues by analysing the consequences of business decisions as well as recommending and evaluating decisions. Pupils who have studied Business Studies often continue on this pathway through to A Level and is a very popular degree choice as it leads to a wide range of business careers.
Students will study some of the key areas within a business, such as marketing, finance, human resources and operations. They will also consider how a business is affected by external factors such as legislation, competition, global pandemics, the economy and Brexit.
Students will need to be able to perform financial calculations as well as analysing data. Students will have to analyse options businesses have and evaluate both options to help them decide which option would be better suited to a specific business
The AQA GCSE is all exam-based – there is no coursework. Students study the following topics:
Business in the Real World – The purpose and nature of businesses, business ownership, business aims and objectives, stakeholders, business location, business planning, expanding a business.
Influences on Business – Technology, ethical and environmental considerations, economic climate, globalisation, legislation, competitive environment.
Business Operations – Production processes, the role of procurement, the concept of quality, good customer services.
Human Resources – Organisational structures, recruitment and selection of employees, motivating employees, training.
Marketing – Identifying and understanding customers, segmentation, the purpose and methods of market research, the elements of the marketing mix: price, product, promotion and place (4Ps).
Finance – Sources of finance, cash flow, financial terms and calculations, analysing the financial performance of a business.
| Term 1 | Term 2 | Term 3 | Term 4 | Term 5 | Term 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.1.1 The purpose and nature of business 3.1.2 Business ownership 3.1.3 Setting business aims and objectives 3.1.4 Stakeholders | 3.1.5 Business location 3.1.6 Business planning 3.1.7 Expanding a business 3.6.1 Sources of finance 3.6.2 Cash flow | 3.6.3 Financial terms and calculations 3.6.4 Analysing the financial performance of a business | 3.2.1 Technology 3.2.2 Ethical and environmental considerations 3.2.3 The economic climate of business | 3.2.4 Globalisation 3.2.5 Legislation 3.2.6 The competitive environment Prelims and revision | 3.3.1 Production processes 3.3.2 The role of procurement 3.3.3 The concept of quality
|
| Term 1 | Term 2 | Term 3 | Term 4 | Term 5 | Term 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3.3.1 Production processes 3.3.2 The role of procurement 3.3.3 The concept of quality 3.3.4 Good customer service 3.4.1 Organisational structures 3.4.2 Recruitment and selection of employees Prelims | 3.4.3 Motivating employees 3.4.4 Training 3.5.1 Identifying and understanding customers 3.5.2 Segmentation | 3.5.3 The purpose and methods of market research 3.5.4 Elements of the marketing mix 3.5.5 Using the marketing mix: product and pricing 3.5.6 Promotion and distribution Prelims | Revision of Units 1 & 2 | Revision of Units 6 & 3 | GCSE Exams |
Please see attached the Key Stage 4 Learning Journey for Business Studies.
Business is also a popular choice amongst students at A-level. This subject can be chosen by students even if they have not studied it at GCSE level. Students learn about the workings of real-life businesses; understand the cause and effect of business decisions; develop skills such as handling data; presenting arguments; making recommendations; recognising problems; planning and conducting research ‐ all useful for future study and for all career choices.
Students will develop their knowledge of local, national and international businesses. The content is designed to engage students through topics and issues that are relevant in today’s society, e.g. digital technology, business ethics and globalisation. Students will also need to demonstrate their understanding of business issues by analysing the consequences of business decisions as well as recommending and evaluating decisions. Students will perform financial calculations but will also develop the ability to analyse and evaluate the financial calculations.
Students will consider how a business is affected by external factors such as legislation, competition, global pandemics, the economy and Brexit. The financial implications of such external factors will be considered and applied to real life businesses.
The course guides students to take a holistic approach to the subject as they will study business models and theories which they will then apply to real life businesses, which will develop students’ curiosity for the subject. Students will need to stay up to date with current business affairs so they can bring in relevant business examples when answering exam questions, particularly for 25-mark questions.
The AQA A-level Business course is all exam based – there is no coursework. Students study the following topics:
| Term 1 | Term 2 | Term 3 | Term 4 | Term 5 | Term 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.1.1 Understanding the nature and purpose of business 3.1.2 Understanding different business forms 3.1.3 Understanding that businesses operate within an external environment 3.2.1 Understanding management, leadership and decision making 3.2.3 Understanding the role and importance of stakeholders 3.2.2 Understanding management decision making 3.3.1 Setting marketing objectives | 3.3.3 Making marketing decisions: segmentation, targeting, positioning 3.3.2 Understanding markets and customers 3.3.4 Making marketing decisions: using the marketing mix 3.4.1 Setting operational objectives 3.4.2 Analysing operational performance 3.4.3 Making operational decisions to improve performance: increasing efficiency and productivity Prelim Exams | 3.4.4 Making operational decisions to improve performance: improving quality 3.4.5 Making operational decisions to improve performance: managing inventory and supply chains 3.5.1 Setting financial objectives 3.5.2 Analysing financial performance 3.5.3 Making financial decisions: sources of finance 3.5.4 Making financial decisions: improving cash flow and profits | 3.6.1 Setting human resource objectives 3.6.2 Analysing human resource performance 3.6.3 Making human resource decisions: improving organisational design and managing the human resource flow 3.6.4 Making human resource decisions: improving motivation and engagement 3.6.5 Making human resource decisions: improving employer-employee relations | 3.7.1 Mission, corporate objectives and strategy 3.7.2 Analysing the existing internal position of a business to assess strengths and weaknesses: financial ratio analysis 3.7.3 Analysing the existing internal position of a business to assess strengths and weaknesses: overall performance 3.7.4 Analysing the external environment to assess opportunities and threats: political and legal change | 3.7.5 Analysing the external environment to assess opportunities and threats: economic change 3.7.6 Analysing the external environment to assess opportunities and Prelim Exams |
| Term 1 | Term 2 | Term 3 | Term 4 | Term 5 | Term 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.8.1 Strategic direction: choosing which markets to compete in and what products to offer 3.8.2 Strategic positioning: choosing how to compete 3.9.1 Assessing a change in scale 3.9.2 Assessing innovation | 3.9.3 Assessing internationalisation 3.9.4 Assessing greater use of digital technology 3.10.1 Managing change 3.10.2 Managing organisational culture 3.10.3 Managing strategic implementation 3.10.4 Problems with strategy and why strategies fail Prelim Exams | Term left blank are for revision purposes and focused sessions. | Revision Exams | Revision Exams | Exams |
Please see attached the Key Stage 5 Learning Journey for Business Studies.
There are a wide range of online support resources available to students studying business. Please see list of websites below:
Tutor2u have a wide range of YouTube videos which are very useful for the more complicated topics for A-level Business.
There are hundreds of Business courses at University from Pure Business to combinations with languages, marketing, human resources, and economics. Specific careers include accountancy and management as well as preparing students working for themselves.
British Values feature in many aspects of the course that we deliver within our Business department. As such, these themes appear in many topics that are taught in Business.
As part of our GCSE and A-level Business Studies courses, both Business Law and Employment Law are covered in some depth as well as the importance of these laws in determining British liberties and freedoms. The role of legislation and regulation is taught within many topics and referred to in lessons regularly by examining the impact the regulations and legislations have on businesses and society as a whole. In particular students examine how governments can use punishment through fines etc., rules, guidelines, constraints to change the behaviour of firms and consumers, e.g. minimum wage, compulsory taxes, health and safety etc. Students develop an understanding of what laws they as consumers need to follow along with laws businesses need to follow in order to behave in an ethical manner.
When students study recruitment units, they analyse the impact of mutual respect, tolerance and equal opportunities when working with employees. They study the financial impact this could have on businesses and their reputation. Both A-level and GCSE lessons lead to discussions on how different ethnic groups and religious beliefs help contribute to the overall success of the global economy, which are key to students understanding how every individual has a place in today’s society.
At A-level, students examine political and legal environments which helps them to understand the effects UK and EU law can have on competition, the labour market, the environment, infrastructure and international trade. Students learn about the impact not following these EU and UK laws can have on a business.
