Curriculum

Business Studies

Subject Overview

The Business Studies Department at Cardinal Wiseman offers KEY STAGE 4 (YEARS 10 AND 11) students GCSE Business Studies. Sixth Form students can choose from either A Level Business Studies or BTEC Level 3 Business. Studying Business allows the students to understand more about the business world around them as well as the knowledge of how to start up their own business or follow a career in finance, accounting, marketing or business management.

"Innovation distinguishes between being a leader and a follower."

Steve Jobs, Apple

KEY STAGE 4 (YEARS’ 10 AND 11)

learning journey Business 2023 v3.pdf 

GCSE Business Studies

Exam board: Pearson Edexcel GCSE (9-1) Business

The specification is structured into two themes, taking students from how entrepreneurs start businesses (Theme 1: Investigating Small Business) through to growing and global businesses (Theme 2: Building a Business). There are two equally weighted exam papers, focusing on each specification theme.

Theme 1: Investigating Small Business 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.

Content overview

  • Topic 1.1 Enterprise and entrepreneurship
  • Topic 1.2 Spotting a business opportunity
  • Topic 1.3 Putting a business idea into practice
  • Topic 1.4 Making the business effective
  • Topic 1.5 Understanding external influences on business

Theme 2: Building a Business 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 an emphasis on aspects of marketing, operations, finance and human resources. It also considers the impact of the wider world on the decisions a business makes as it grows.

Content overview

  • Topic 2.1 Growing the business
  • Topic 2.2 Making marketing decisions
  • Topic 2.3 Making operational decisions
  • Topic 2.4 Making financial decisions
  • Topic 2.5 Making human resource decisions

 

KS5 (YEARS’ 12 AND 13)

A Level Business

learning journey business KS5.pdf

Exam Board: AQA

Content overview

There is a holistic approach to the subject. The specification demonstrates the interrelated nature of business using business models, theories and techniques to support analysis of contemporary business issues and situations to provide a dynamic specification. The content is designed to engage students through topics and issues that are relevant in today’s society – they will study key contemporary developments such as digital technology and business ethics, and globalisation is covered throughout the topics.

  • 3.1 What is business?
  • 3.2 Managers, leadership and decision making
  • 3.3 Decision making to improve marketing performance
  • 3.4 Decision making to improve operational performance
  • 3.5 Decision making to improve financial performance
  • 3.6 Decision making to improve human resource performance
  • 3.7 Analysing the strategic position of a business
  • 3.8 Choosing strategic direction
  • 3.9 Strategic methods: how to pursue strategies
  • 3.10 Managing strategic change

 

BTEC Level 3 Business

learning journey business BTEC L3.pdf

Exam Board: Pearson

Content overview

An introduction to the business sector where an element of business would complement a learners’ programme of study. The qualification is equivalent in size to two A Levels and consists of 8 units of which 6 are mandatory and 3 are external.

  • 1 Exploring Business
  • 2 Developing a Marketing Campaign
  • 3 Personal and Business Finance
  • 4 Managing an Event
  • 5 International Business
  • 6 Principles of Management
  • 8 Recruitment and Selection Process
  • 16 Visual Merchandising

Success and Achievements:

Our results continue to be impressive at KEY STAGE 4 (YEARS 10 AND 11) with an outstanding achievement in 2018-2019 which was our first cohort of the 9-1 GCSE: 9-5 72%, 9-4 89% and 9-7:25%. We have a proven track record of success at KS4 and have enjoyed great results over many years.

Results at KS5 for A Level Business and BTEC Level 3

Business in 2 2019, A Level Business: A*-A: 11%, A*-B: 47%, A*-C: 68%, A*-E: 100%. BTEC Level 3 Business: D*D*-DD: 64%, D*D*-MM: 91%, D*D*-PP:100%.

Wider Learning and Enrichment Opportunities

We have been fortunate to take a small group of year 10 GCSE students to ‘Day to Amaze’ which focuses on financial planning and business management at Metro Bank in Holborn for the past 3 years.

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