Business Studies

Why Choose this course?

This qualification will provide learners with the opportunity to develop an understanding of the business environment and to focus on a specific aspect of business through applied learning. This qualification will provide learners with the opportunity to develop an understanding of the business environment and to focus on a specific aspect of business through applied learning.

Prospects

This qualification provides a broad understanding of business knowledge and skills to support progress to higher education and is suitable for learning alongside other Level 3 qualifications, ie A levels and/or other Level 3 vocational qualifications (such as accounting, sociology, psychology, languages, Media, retail etc).

This qualification can also prepare you to take up employment in business and entrepreneurship, either directly after achieving the qualification or via higher education at university or college.

Studying this qualification will enable you to develop the fundamental knowledge and skills recognised as most important by higher education and employers. The qualification also offers you an opportunity to develop transferrable skills, such as teamwork, research and communication as part of their applied learning.

Year 12 - Subject Content

Unit 1: Financial planning and analysis Examination
In this unit, you will explore the financial issues that enterprises need to consider. To do this, you will need to explore different ways in which enterprises can be owned and how they can be financed. You will need to understand the issues that enterprises face concerning cash-flow. You will calculate profit, break-even and cash-flow to monitor the enterprise.

Unit 2: Business dynamics - Merlin Entertainment
In this unit, you will investigate the factors contributing to the success of businesses, focussing on the role played by managers, supervisors and employees. You will consider how businesses organise themselves and you will develop your ability to analyse and evaluate the effectiveness of these organisational structures. You will investigate how businesses can gain a competitive advantage over other businesses, for example, through improving their operations, and the factors that determine the market share held by a business. You will then consider the role of management in improving the competitive position of businesses and how managers implement policies to improve the ways in which staff operates - individually and as part of the wider organisation. Finally, you will consider the potential for businesses to survive and grow by investigating the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of businesses.

Unit 3: Entrepreneurial opportunities
In this unit, you will consider how your own skills and personality type affect the ways in which you might exploit an entrepreneurial opportunity. You will also investigate the factors affecting the success of enterprise, considering the importance of the customer value proposition, target market preferences and networking with key support groups (such as family and business people). You will then consider the options available to you for enterprise. You will investigate marketing activities to meet the needs of your target market. The method of operating the enterprise is also a key consideration and you will investigate ways of running it. Finally, you will consider the risks and uncertainties that might impact on its potential success and how these could be reduced.

Year 13 - Subject Content

Unit 4: Managing and leading people
In this unit, you will explore how organisations, operating in a changing environment, use managers and employees to achieve objectives. This will include the importance of leadership, how employees and managers interact in the workplace and the impact that different organisational structures have on how managers and employees work in them. You will study the role of management and contrast this with that of leadership. You will investigate the importance of business culture, the factors affecting the motivation of employees and why they might resist organisational change. You will study why styles of leadership are important to the way in which a business functions and how the chosen style depends on the motivational needs of employees. You will consider how empowerment can help motivate employees and how managers can use this, and leadership, to implement organisational change.

Unit 5: Developing a business proposal - Creating Own Business
In this unit, you will use mind mapping software (such as a word processor with graphics functions) to consider the potential of your initial business ideas. You will then select one business idea to develop as a business proposal. You will outline the marketing, operations, human resources and financial plans of your selected business idea. This will require you to carry out research to gather the information needed by the outline plans. You will use a spreadsheet model of your business proposal to test its viability. In order to raise finance for the proposal, you will produce materials to communicate the outline marketing, operations, human resources and financial plans to funding providers. Finally, you will evaluate your business proposal, considering ways in which its marketing and operations plans might be improved.

Unit 8: Marketing communications
Marketing communications are essential for any business wishing to attract and retain customers. In this unit, you will investigate the marketing communications delivered by small businesses, considering their use of traditional and modern marketing communications channels. You will then use information from your Business proposal unit assignment to plan a marketing communications strategy capable of supporting your business proposal. This will require you to investigate the buyer behaviour and communications preferences of your target market. You will also investigate how your potential competitors use traditional and modern marketing communications channels. You will then draft the communication materials needed to implement your strategy, testing these with representatives of your target market, and develop your marketing communications mix. Finally, you will recommend a schedule of marketing communications for your business proposal and make appropriate adjustments to the business proposal's outline plans and coherence.

Course Opportunities/ Activities

Throughout the year there is several opportunities and activities which complement the studies. There is several trips which will include visits to further and higher education institutions. There will be activities help which are relevant to elements of the course such as; trips to Merlin Entertainment locations across the UK.

Support and Challenge

Throughout the year students are supported on all elements of the course delivery. The support will ensure students are fully up to date on the portfolio task and fully prepared for external exam challenges. Students in all lessons will develop their contextual understanding, to further conceptualise their learning.

Student Comment

I would encourage you to pick Applied General Business because it explores many different aspects of business. The knowledge that I have gained is valuable and the course also helps to develop your creativity. Another benefit of this course is that it helps you with your other subjects in terms of your analytical skills.

Why Choose this course?

Taking A-level Business Studies is a great thing to do if you have aspirations of one day becoming self-employed or in a managerial position. A-level business studies can give you the tools and information required to understand how businesses are created, managed and become successful. The A-level business studies course is very similar to the economics A-level, so you learn a great deal about budgeting and financial stability.

Prospects

A-level business studies looks great to any employers as it shows you have a background information into how a business works, so you are automatically considered for higher positions. There are a number of career and university options your A-level in business studies will offer you.

Possible career choices with A-level business studies include management, marketing, finance, accounting, banking, retailing, manufacturing and local government. Many universities will accept business studies as a A-level when applying for courses such as economics, business studies and many other options.

Course Content

In the first year students study the following topics:

• What is business?
• Managers, leadership and decision making
• Marketing Management
• Operational Management
• Financial Management
• Human Resources Management

In the second year students study all the topics plus:

• Analysing the strategic position of a business
• Choosing strategic direction
• Strategic methods: how to pursue strategies
• Managing strategic change

Assessment

Three written exams sat in Y13; 2 hrs each, with multiple choice questions, short answer questions, essay questions examining different skills.

Course Opportunities/ Activities

Throughout the year there are several opportunities and activities which complement the business course. We feel especially in business trips enhance the teaching and learning and can effectively enable students to experience first-hand places, people and issues, bringing to life the topics being studied. These include; trips to local Universities and industry leaders such as Jaguar and Merlin Entertainment.

Support and Challenge

Throughout the year students are supported are given the knowledge and confidence to be a successful future business leader. Students will have access to read academic writing which will strengthen their, analysis and evaluation skills. The business team provide revision sessions to help the students to enhance their learning and further their analytically skills. Our ambition for all means is we are determined to remove any barriers in students achieving their true potential. Personalised and detailed feedback is given and students reflect and improve their answers. For each unit, reading materials are provided along with challenging articles. Staff work closely with the exam board and the students will attend revision sessions hosted by the exam company Tutor2u.

Student Comment

The topics I studied at GCSE were interesting, but A-Level Business is definitely more engaging. Although you might know about certain topics, A-level Business adds that further depth and critical thinking to your knowledge. I find that Business compliments my other subjects really well, as I am able to transfer knowledge from Business to further my learning in other subjects

Why Choose this course?

Economists are needed to advise the government, banks and industry. These are the experts that analyse the economic conditions that affect business and consumers. It offers insight into the world of money and business with which many of us are familiar. Everyone takes part in economic activity as consumers, employees, tax-payers and voters.

Young people ought to have an understanding of the economic system, and what is involved in buying and selling. People also need to know where their business stands in relation to the outside world. In all these cases a knowledge of Economics is extremely useful and relevant to people's lives. Indeed anyone who is interested in current affairs will be curious about Economics and what it has to offer. Students taking this subject are encouraged to read as widely as possible about contemporary economic issues.

Prospects

The skills which are developed are useful in Law, Management, Banking, Social Work, Civil Service, Local Government, Teaching, Journalism and Television.

Course Content

Economics will examine different systems for running a country, comment on which is best and why the government needs to intervene in the running of the nation, for example, by providing universities or hospitals. How far the government should intervene is a source of much economic debate. In a range of real life situations, Economics tries to provide answers to the questions 'which is best?' and 'which is fair?'.

Who is this qualification for?

The Pearson BTEC National Extended Certificate in Applied Law is an Applied General qualification for post-16 learners who want to continue their education through applied learning and who aim to progress to higher education and ultimately to employment, possibly in the legal sector. The qualification is equivalent in size to one A Level and aims to provide a detailed introduction to the legal sector.

What does this qualification cover?

The content of this qualification has been developed in consultation with academics to ensure that it supports progression to higher education. It includes the opportunity to develop the research, communication, presentation, decision-making and critical-thinking skills valued by higher education. In addition, employers have been involved and consulted in order to confirm that the content is appropriate and consistent with current practice for learners planning to enter employment directly in the legal sector.

The learning programme covers the following content areas:

• dispute solving in civil law
• investigating aspects of criminal law and the legal system
• applying the law

The optional units have been designed to support choices for further study, preferred interest or employment needs. They support the mandatory unit content and link with relevant occupational areas. They cover content areas in:

• aspects of family law
• consumer law
• contract law
• aspects of tort

What could this qualification lead to?

The qualification carries UCAS points and if it is taken alongside other qualifications as part of a two-year programme of learning, then it is recognised by higher education providers as contributing to meeting admission requirements for many courses. It will support entry to many higher education courses, depending on the other qualifications learners have taken. Learners should always check the entry requirements for degree programmes with specific higher education providers. The qualification can also support progression to employment directly or via an Apprenticeship.

How does the qualification provide employability skills?

In the BTEC National units there are opportunities during the teaching and learning phase to give learners practice in developing employability skills. Where employability skills are referred to in this specification, we are generally referring to skills in the following three main categories:

• cognitive and problem-solving skills: use critical thinking, approach non-routine problems applying expert and creative solutions, use systems and technology
• intrapersonal skills: communicating, working collaboratively, negotiating and influencing, self-presentation
• interpersonal skills: self-management, adaptability and resilience, self-monitoring and development.

There are also specific requirements in some units for assessment of these skills where relevant, for example, where learners are required to undertake real or simulated activities.

How does the qualification provide transferable knowledge and skills for higher education?

All BTEC Nationals provide transferable knowledge and skills that prepare learners for progression to higher education. The transferable skills that universities value include:

• the ability to learn independently
• the ability to research actively and methodically
• being able to give presentations and being active group members.

BTEC learners can also benefit from opportunities for deep learning where they are able to make connections among units and select areas of interest for detailed study. BTEC Nationals provide a vocational context in which learners can develop the knowledge and skills required for particular degree courses, including:

• reading legal texts
• effective writing
• research skills
• analytical skills
• creative development
• preparation for assessment methods used in degrees

Qualification structure

Mandatory units There are three mandatory units that learners must complete, one internal and two external. Learners must complete and achieve at Near Pass grade or above in all mandatory external units and achieve a Pass or above in all mandatory internal units. The three mandatory units are Dispute Solving in Civil Law, Investigating Aspects of Criminal Law and the Legal System and Applying the Law.

Optional units
Learners must complete at least one optional unit. We can choose from Aspects of Family Law, Consumer Law, Contract Law or Aspects of Tort.

External assessment

This is a summary of the type and availability of external assessment, which is of units making up 58% of the total qualification learning hours.

Unit 1: Dispute Solving in Civil Law

• A task set and marked by Pearson and completed under supervised conditions.
• Learners will be given information about a case one week before a supervised assessment period in order to carry out research.
• The supervised assessment period is a maximum of one and a half hours, in one sitting, on a specified date timetabled by Pearson.
• Submission completed using a computer.
• Worth 60 marks and completed in Jan or May/June

Unit 3: Applying the Law: A task set and marked by Pearson and completed under supervised conditions.

• Learners are given information about two cases two weeks before a supervised assessment period in order to carry out research.
• The supervised assessment period is a maximum of two hours, in one morning sitting, on a specified date timetabled by Pearson.
• Written submission.
• worth 72 marks and again sat in either Jan or May/June