Business & Economics
The study of business and economics has never been more relevant in our rapidly changing world.
Challenges to the global economy, the credit crunch, Brexit, the rise of China as an economic super power and the future of the Euro are issues that are rarely out of the news spotlight. Furthermore, our interest in entrepreneurship has never been higher, with television series such as ‘Dragon’s Den’ and ‘The Apprentice’ encouraging innovation and enterprise. The business and economics department offer a range of courses from GCSE, A Level and BTEC Level 3. The staff all have significant industry experience and strive to make all courses relevant and engaging for our students.
Key Stage 4: Edexcel GCSE Business (1BSO)
Students will have the opportunity to study the following topics in preparation for two exam papers at the end of the course:
- Theme 1 (Paper 1, 90 minutes): Investigating small businesses: enterprise and entrepreneurship, business opportunities, business ideas into practice, effective businesses and external influences on businesses.
- Theme 2 (Paper 2, 90 minutes): Building a business: business growth, marketing, financial, operational and human resource decisions.
Key Stage 4: AQA GCSE Economics (8136)
Students will have the opportunity to study the following topics in preparation for two exam papers at the end of the course:
- How markets work (Paper 1, 1 hour 45 mins): economic foundations, resource allocation, how prices are determined and production, costs, revenue and profit.
- How the economy works (Paper 2, 1 hour and 45 mins): introduction to the national economy, government objectives, how the government manages the economy, international trade and the global economy and the role of money and financial markets.
Key Stage 5: AQA A Level Business (7132)
Students will study the following topics:
- Business and decision making (year 1): leadership and management, marketing, finance, operations and human resources.
- Business strategy (year 2): strategic positioning, strategic direction, strategic methods and managing change.
There are three exam papers at the end of the second year. All papers test knowledge from the whole syllabus, are equally weighted and are 2 hours in length.
Key Stage 5: Edexcel BTEC Business
There is a choice for students wanting to study the BTEC Business. They can either opt for the one A Level equivalent or the 2 A Level equivalent course. Depending on their choice they will study the following:
- National Extended Certificate (4 units, equivalent to 1 A level): Units: Exploring business (coursework), developing a marketing campaign (controlled assessment) and personal and business finance (external exam) and customer service (coursework).
- National Diploma (8 units, equivalent to 2 A Levels): Units as above plus: principles of management (controlled assessment), managing an event (practical and coursework), international business and pitching for a new business.
Key Stage 5: Edexcel A Level Economics (9ECO)
Students will study the following themes:
- Theme 1: Introduction to markets and market failure
- Theme 2: The UK economy – performance and policies
- Theme 3: Business behaviour and the labour market
- Theme 4: A global perspective
There are three exam papers at the end of the second year. Paper 1 will assess microeconomics, drawn from themes 1 and 3, paper 2 will assess macroeconomics, drawn from themes 2 and 4, and paper 3 will assess the content from all 4 themes. All papers are 3 hours in length.
