Business

Department Vision

Business activity is a feature of everyone’s life. As consumers, employees, savers and investors, people throughout the world engage in a web of business activities to design, produce, market, deliver and support a range of goods and services.

Students completing this course will develop general and specific skills including research, analysis, problem-solving, decision making, critical thinking and communication. These skills enhance your confidence and ability to participate effectively, not only as members of the business world, but as informed citizens dealing with issues emanating from business activity that impact on your lives.

Business Studies fosters intellectual, social and moral development by assisting students to think critically about the ethical responsibilities to society, as it provides useful knowledge and skills for life.

This is a wide ranging course containing a number of elements which are taught in modular form but which are also integrated through the use of case studies. Frequent reference is made to live business stories and the department makes extensive use of current affairs to support student learning. Students are taught business theory in order to solve business problems e.g. financing expansion abroad, strategies for cutting work forces etc.

Years 10 & 11

Year 10 

 

Topic 

Learning Outcomes 

Term 1                  

Enterprise and Entrepreneurship 

Why and how new business ideas come about? 

The impact of risk and reward on business activity 

The role and purpose of enterprise/entrepreneurship 

Term 2 

Spotting a business opportunity 

Identifying and understanding customer needs. 

The purpose of market research/methods of market research 

How a business can use market segmentation 

Understanding the competitive environment 

Term 3 

Putting a business idea into practice 

What business aims and objectives are? 

Understanding and using business calculations 

The importance of cash to a business 

Sources of finance for a start up business 

Term 4 

Making the business effective 

Understanding the concept of limited liability 

Factors influencing business location 

What is the marketing mix and the importance of it to a business 

The role and importance of a business plan 

Term 5 

Understanding external influences on business 

Who business stakeholders are and their different objectives 

Technology and business 

The purpose and impact of business legislation 

The impact of the economy on business 

The importance of external influences on business 

Term 6 

Growing a business 

Methods of business growth 

Types of business ownership 

Sources of finance for a growing business 

Why aims and objectives change over time 

Impact of globalisation 

International trade 

Business ethics 

Year 11 

 

Topic 

Learning Outcomes 

Term 1     

Making marketing derisions 

Understanding the elements of the marketing mix 

  • Product (design mix, product life cycle) 

  • Price (Pricing strategies) 

  • Place (methods of distribution) 

  • Promotion (methods of promotion) 

How each element of the of the marketing mix can influence each other 

Term 2        

Making operational decisions 

The purpose of business operations 

Understanding the differing production processes 

Impact of technology on production 

Managing stock 

The role of procurement 

The concepts of quality and its importance 

The sales process 

Term 3 

Making financial decisions 

The concept and calculation of – gross, net profit 

Calculation and interpretation of – gross profit margin, net profit margin, average rate of return 

The use and limitation of financial data 

Term 4 

Making human resource decisions 

Understanding differing organisational structures 

The importance of communication 

Different ways of working 

How business recruit 

How businesses train and develop employees 

The importance of motivation in the workplace 

Term 5 

Revision and Exam Prep  

Preparation for the 2 exams 

Term 6 

Exam season  

 

Post 16 at WG6

Year 12 Theme 1

 

Topic 

Learning Outcomes 

Term 1   

Meeting customer needs 

  • The market: 

  • Market research 

  • Market positioning 

 

 

 

 

 

Mass and niche markets 

Dynamic markets 

How competition affect the market 

The difference between risk and uncertainty 

 

Product and market orientation 

Types of market research 

Limitations of market research  

 

Market mapping 

Competitive advantage 

Product differentiation 

Adding value 

 

Term 2 

Entrepreneurs and leaders 

 

 

 

 

The market (economic concpets) 

 The role of an entrepreneur 

Characteristics and motives of an entrepreneur 

Business objectives 

Forms of business – Sole trader, LTD, PLC etc.. 

 

Supply and demand 

Price elasticity of demand 

Income elasticity of demand 

Term 3 

Marketing 

  • Product 

  • Price 

  • Promotion 

  • Distribution 

 

 

Marketing Strategy 

 

How are products designed 

Types of promotion 

How to build a brand 

Pricing strategies 

Distribution methods for a business 

How do social trends influence the marketing mix 

 

Importance of a product portfolio 

Term  4     

Managing people 

Approaches to staffing 

Recruitment training and selection 

Organisational design 

Method of motivations, importance of motivation 

Leadership styles 

Term 5 

Business choices 

Moving from an entrepreneur to a leader  

Opportunity cost for business decision 

Trade offs for a business 

Difficulty in transitioning from an entrepreneur to a leader 

Term 6 

Exam Question technique 

 

 

Introduction to Y13 content 

 

Focusing on question and paragraph structure for each type of exam question 

 

What is globalisation?  Highlight the Impact of this on Multinational corporations 

Year 12 Theme 2 

 

Topic 

Learning Outcomes 

Term 1  

Raising finance 

Sources of finance (internal and external) for small, medium and multinational businesses 

Importance of liability for a business 

Understanding the importance Business planning   

How to manage Cash flow  

Term 2    

Financial planning 

Understanding Break-even charts, importance to a business of breakeven 

How to understand Sales forecasting   

The importance of Budgeting   

Term 3 

Managing finance  

Financial statements  

How to calculate Profit and profit margins.  

Liquidity   

Business failure   

Term 4 

Resource management 

Production, productivity and efficiency   

Capacity utilisation   

Stock control Ratios 

Quality management   

Term 5 

External influences 

Economic influences  on a business 

Legislation  and its impact on a business 

The competitive environment   

Term 6 

Exam technique 

 

Case study analysis  

 

Calculation practice 

Focusing on question and paragraph structure for each type of exam question 

Be able to read a case study and improve the way we apply theoretical concepts to the information provided.  

Build confidence and consolidate our knowledge on the key calculations 

Y13 Theme 3 

 

Topic 

Learning Outcomes 

Term 1     

Business objectives and strategy 

 What are Corporate objectives   

Theories of corporate strategy   

The external environment  and its impact on business 

Term 2 

Business growth 

Types of organic growth  

Types of inorganic growth   

Reasons for a business to stay small 

Term 3 

Decision making techniques 

The importance of quantitative sales forecasting  for a business 

How to construct and understand Decision trees   

How to calculate and understand Investment appraisal   

How to understand and interpret Critical path analysis 

Term 4 

Influences on business decisions 

Assessing competitiveness 

 What is Corporate culture   

Stakeholder versus shareholder approach   

Understanding business ethics and CSR – impact on a business 

Interpretation of financial statements and uses  

Understanding Ratio analysis   

The use of Human resources strategies in a business 

Term 5 

Managing change 

 Causes and effects of change on a business 

The importance of scenario planning for a business 

Term 6 

Exam technique 

 

Students to sit external exams Papers 1-3 

 

 

 

Focusing on question and paragraph structure for each type of exam question 

  

 

Y13 Theme 4 

 

Topic 

Learning Outcomes 

Term 1            

Business objectives and strategy                       

 What are Corporate objectives   

Theories of corporate strategy   

The external environment  and its impact on business

Term 2  

Business growth 

Types of organic growth  

Types of inorganic growth   

Reasons for a business to stay small 

Term 3  

Decision making techniques 

The importance of quantitative sales forecasting  for a business 

How to construct and understand Decision trees   

How to calculate and understand Investment appraisal   

How to understand and interpret Critical path analysis 

Term 4   

Influences on business decisions 

Assessing competitiveness 

 What is Corporate culture   

Stakeholder versus shareholder approach   

Understanding business ethics and CSR – impact on a business 

Interpretation of financial statements and uses  

Understanding Ratio analysis   

The use of Human resources strategies in a business 

Term 5   

Managing change 

 Causes and effects of change on a business 

The importance of scenario planning for a business 

Term 6   

Exam technique 

 

Students to sit external exams  

Focusing on question and paragraph structure for each type of exam question. 

Ensure students are confident with paragraph and question structure. 

 

 

Topic 

Learning Outcomes 

Term 1 

Globalisation

What are growing economies? 

Impact upon a business? 

Benefits and drawback of international trade on a business due to globalisation 

Factors contributing to increased globalisation 

Impact of protectionism on a business 

Understand the differing types of trade blocs/agreements and their impact on a business 

The reasons for global mergers and joint ventures 

The impact on a business of global competitiveness 

 

Term 2 

Global markets and business 

Be able to assess the condition that prompt trade in differing countries 

Be able to assess a country as a potential market 

Be able to assess a country as potential production location 

Term 3 

Global Marketing 

Understand the differing marketing approaches a business may use in difference countries/cultures 

Understand what a global niche market is and how a marketing mix need to be adapted to suit this.  

Understand and the social/cultural factors that will influence a business decision  

Term 4 

Global industries and companies (multinational corporations) 

The impact Multinational corporations have on society 

The impact business ethic can have on business decisions  

Evaluate how government may look to control the behaviour of multinational corporations 

Term 5 

Case study practice 

 

Re-cap core areas of theme 1 and 4 

 Improve the student's ability to apply theoretical concepts to given case studies. 

Build the students confidence on the core concepts of the 1, consolidating knowledge and understanding of them 

 

Term 6 

External exams- Students will sit papers 1-3  

Final preparations for external exams. Ensure students are confident with paragraph and question structure.