GCSE Business |
This course aims to: |
- actively engage students in the study of business
- develop independent learners with enquiring minds
- develop critical and reflective thinkers
- develop a knowledge and understanding of contemporary issues
- encourage students to apply their learning to work-related contexts
Why study Business GCSE? |
This course will 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
- develop as enterprising individuals with the ability to think commercially and creatively to demonstrate business acumen, and draw on evidence to make informed business decisions and solve business problems
- develop as effective and independent students, and as critical and reflective thinkers with enquiring minds
- use an enquiring, critical approach to make informed judgements
- investigate and analyse real business opportunities and issues to construct well-argued, well-evidenced, balanced and structured arguments, demonstrating their depth and breadth of understanding of business
- develop and apply quantitative skills relevant to business, including using and interpreting data.
What kind of student is suitable for this course? |
Students most suitable are those who can:
- make a concise report
- make logical links in their learning
- make decisions about an issue
- have some aptitude for maths
- act on advice
- think creatively and independently
- communicate effectively
- solve problems
- utilise ICT to research and present their findings
What career options are opened up by the course? |
Business Studies provides a good basis for a multitude of career options in the commercial world including:
- Business Manager
- Management Consultant
- Entrepreneur
- Banking
- Insurance
- Accountancy
Course Structure |
Students have three hours of lessons per week in mixed gender and mixed ability groups.
The course is made up of two themes; Theme 1: Investigating Small Business and Theme 2: Building a Business
Theme 1:
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. The subject is explored in five main topics;
- Enterprise and entrepreneurship – the dynamic nature of business, the concepts of risk and reward and the skills required for entrepreneurship
- Spotting a business opportunity – how new businesses come about including the key role of market research and understanding the competition
- Putting a business idea into practice – identifying aims and objectives and understanding key financial measures of business performance
- Making the business effective – considering a range of factors that determine business success including location, business planning and the marketing mix
- Understanding external influences on business – consideration of key external factors such as the economy, technology, legislation and the needs of stakeholders
Theme 2:
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.
The topics covered in theme 2 are:
- Growing the business –methods of growth and how and why business aims and objectives change. The impact of globalisation and the ethical and environmental considerations
- Making marketing decisions – each element of the marketing mix is studied in detail
- Making operational decisions –meeting customer needs through the design, supply, quality and sales decisions a business makes
- Making financial decisions – business tools to support financial decision making, including ratio analysis and other financial information
- Making human resource decisions – decisions relating to organisational structure, recruitment, training and motivation are explored
The content is examined via 2 exam papers in the summer of the second year of the course.
Each paper is scheduled for 1 hour and 45 minutes and the two themes are examined separately.
Key Contact |
Mr Rydqvist, Head of Business and Economics
craig.rydqvist@wrenacademy.org
Syllabus Specification |