FACULTY LEADER: Mr M Faulkner

SUBJECT LEADER: Miss E Speak

Qualifications and exam boards:

GCSE Business – current Year 11, AQA; current Year 10 and future year groups, Edexcel

A-level Business – Edexcel

A-level Economics – Edexcel

Level 3 BTEC Business – Edexcel

Business and Economics are both fascinating subjects that help students understand the real world around them and how it functions. 

Whether you want to be the next Dragon in the Den or become Alan Sugar’s next Apprentice, it may be that you see yourself working in business or you have considered setting up your own business - this subject provides a valuable foundation for your future life and career choices. Business is not just about wealth creation and making money – it is a multi-faceted subject that provides many opportunities to discuss and analyse real problems. Is Primark ethical? Does Kevin De Bruyne deserve his £400,000 weekly wage? How has globalisation affected UK businesses?

At KS5, students can also choose to take Economics, which focuses on the impact of economic decisions and activities and how these affect different areas of society and our everyday lives.  Studying Economics develops a wide range of important skills including data interpretation, presenting arguments and judgements, decision making and problem solving, planning and independent learning skills.  Students are taught in an engaging manner using a range of teaching styles including business simulations and enterprise tasks, case studies, research projects and independent investigation, discussion and debate.

KS3 Curriculum

Although Business and Economics are not taught at KS3, students start developing their business skills and economic understanding through a range of enterprise and economic wellbeing activities delivered through the PSHE curriculum.

KS4 and KS5 Curriculum

At KS4 students can choose to take GCSE Business Studies (Edexcel). 

At KS5 students can choose A Level Business (Edexcel), A Level Economics (Edexcel) or BTEC Extended Certificate in Business (equivalent to one A level - Edexcel).

Please see the Key Stage 4 Options and Sixth Form pages for details of the KS4 and KS5 courses offered by the Design and Technology faculty.

Assessment

GCSE

At GCSE, Business students undertake a variety of different assessments to demonstrate key skills of knowledge, application, analysis and evaluation.  This includes knowledge recall activities such as Kahoot, white board activities or short answer quizzes completed regularly in class to assess students’ understanding of crucial learning, such as key terms and concepts.  Mid-unit assessments (where applicable) mainly focus on shorter answer style questions to assess knowledge, understanding and application (multiple choice, identify, definitions, explain questions).  End of unit assessments also build in longer written answers developing skills of analysis and evaluation. 

A Level Business/Economics 

At A Level, Business/Economics students undertake a variety of different assessments to demonstrate key skills of knowledge, application, analysis and evaluation.   Students cover 4 themes and at the end of each there is an assessment that covers a range of past exam questions.  As well as end of unit assessments, students will complete topic mini assessments to assess crucial learning and longer answer past questions to assess deeper understanding and analysis/evaluation. Over the duration of the course longer answer questions that require a more comprehensive and evaluative approach will be built in with greater frequency. 

BTEC Business 

In BTEC Business, students complete four units.  They are assessed through a written portfolio of evidence that is internally marked and standardised following BTEC regulations. Assessments also take the form of knowledge recall in class - for example, whiteboard activities or mini quizzes to assess crucial knowledge.  Longer past exam questions will also be used to assess deeper understanding and analysis/evaluation, and there will also be a formal assessment covering both short and longer answers.  

Enrichment

Students of Business and Economics are encouraged to take a leading role in developing business and economic understanding throughout the school. An essential part of the subject is seeing first hand the reality of business operations.  Trips are organised by the faculty visiting local businesses such as Waitrose, Sainsburys and exploring how football teams are run as businesses with a trip to the Etihad Stadium.