Business Studies
Business Studies covers a dynamic range of topics that prepare students for the challenges of adult life. It emphasises the dynamic nature of business, its functions, the environment in which it operates, and the importance of creativity in order to survive in fast-changing times.
Head of Business Studies | Mr M Day | M.Day@glynschool.org |
Why study this subject?
Business studies is ideal for anyone wishing to pursue a career in industry or if you are hoping to set up a business of your own in the future. If you are interested in businesses, the decisions they make and the influences they have on stakeholders such as workers, consumers, government and ultimately the country then this subject is definitely for you.
Is it right for me at GCSE?
This subject is right for you if you:
- Enjoy studying a subject that affects your everyday life
- Enjoy communicating and explaining your ideas, thinking creatively and making decisions and working with numbers to solve business problems
- Want to learn about the world of business through research and investigation, as well as through practical tasks
- Want to keep your options open since Business Studies can be combined with a wide range of Science, Social Science and Humanities subjects.
Year 9 sequence of lessons
Half Term 1 - Enterprise and Entrepreneurship
This unit introduces students to the world of business and entrepreneurship. It is intended to demonstrate the key skills and qualities found in entrepreneurs.
Half Term 2 - Enterprise and Entrepreneurship/ Spotting a business opportunity
This unit builds on the introduction to entrepreneurship and the key skills required of entrepreneurs. Students then move on to applying this knowledge to the business world and being able to spot an opportunity to start a new business.
Half Term 3 - Spotting a Business Opportunity / Putting a business idea into practice
Further application of the principles of identifying an opportunity for starting a new business and putting this into practice. Students are encouraged to develop and apply the skills that entrepreneurs use in real life.
Half Term 4 - Putting a business idea into practice / Making the business effective
Consolidation of learning about how to put a business idea into practice and further refinement of this with how to make the business more effective. Students develop more critical thinking skills by refining their initial business ideas.
Half Term 5 - Making the business effective
Further refinement and examination of techniques that businesses can use to be more efficient and successful. Students need to fully understand the tools businesses use to become more effective after starting up.
Half Term 6 - Practical Project
Students will be developing a solution to a business problem based on a scenario from the Junior Apprentice television program. In pairs, students will draw upon the skills they have developed during the year to create a business proposal and present their findings to the class. This forms a key part of the enrichment component to the Year 9 introductory year in Business Studies.
Year 10 sequence of lessons
Half Term 1 - Making the business effective / Understanding external influences
Revisit the last theme from the previous year to ensure strong understanding. Consolidate this knowledge by examining how external factors can affect business decisions and efficiency.
Half Term 2 - Making the business effective / Understanding external influences
Consolidate knowledge in this area and ensure students are fully aware of the range of external influences on a business. Large area of the scheme of work that requires more curriculum time.
Half Term 3 - Growing the business
This unit flows from the previous units and asks students to examine how their new business can grow and what part marketing can play in this. It is sequenced here to enhance students skills in how to build their new business to success.
Half Term 4 - Growing the business
This unit focuses on two distincts methods of growth namely organic and inorganic growth. It challenges students to consider whether growth is always positive and whether there is a case for some businesses to stay small.
Half Term 5 - Making Marketing Decisions
This is the first strategic theme the students study. They have good underpinning business knowledge at this point and can now start making business decisions to benefit the business.
Half Term 6 - Revision / exam technique. Interleaving theme 1 and assessment of Theme 2
Interleaving revision to ensure that students have a thorough overview and understanding of the theme 2 topics studied but also those from theme 1. Students need to have an understanding of both due to the synoptic nature of the assessment.
Year 11 sequence of lessons
Half Term 1 - Making Operational Decisions
Students are now making strategic decisions for a business based on their previous knowledge of how to start and grow a business. They are now looking at making the business the most effective it can be.
Half Term 2 - Making Financial Decisions
Students study financial decisions here because they now have good knowledge to make strategic financial decisions to make the business more effective.
Half Term 3 - Making Financial Decisions
Students now build on their fundamental financial skills to analyse and make judgements about business performance balancing financial positional with external factors to form balanced judgments.
Half Term 4 - Making HR Decisions
This topic is tackled at the end as it is one of the key strategic components for business. Students must have the underpinning knowledge from previous years.
Half Term 5 - Making HR Decisions
Students are now in a position to investigate specific HR components of recruitment, selection and training. Students develop the skill of analysing the significance of HR decisions as an effect of overall performance.
Half Term 6 - Exam skills
Students apply their knowledge to a range of business case studies as a method of synoptic revision across all topics from the course. Students develop their ability to use an analysis of Market, Objectives, Product and Situation (MOPS) to enhance their evaluative judgments.
How is this course assessed at GCSE?
Two written exams. Each paper is 1 hour 30 minutes and makes up 50% of the final grade.
- Paper 1: Investigating small business.
- Paper 2: Building a business.
Further education opportunities after GCSE?
You will become skilled in: making decisions, being creative, solving problems, understanding finance, dealing with data, communicating and working as part of a team.
Year 12 sequence of lessons
Half Term 1 - Meeting customer needs and assessing the market:
Students learn to assess how operating in mass or niche markets determines decision making in relation to developing products and allocating price.
Why we sequence the scheme of work this way
This topic covers a number of fundamental business concepts which bridges the gap for students who have not studied Business at an early key stage.
This topic covers a number of fundamental business concepts which bridges the gap for students who have not studied Business at an early key stage
Half Term 2 - Managing People:
Students study different management and leadership theorists to allow students to assess the most effective methods for individual businesses based on specific circumstances.
Why we sequence the scheme of work this way
After focussing on the key stakeholder group for any business, the customer, focus is now applied to how human resources are managed to deliver on the business’s objectives.
Half Term 3 - Globalisation:
Students investigate how emerging economies provide growth opportunities for multinational businesses.
Why we sequence the scheme of work this way
This commences Theme 4 which fundamentally applies the knowledge covered in Theme 1 to a global context. Students now have a sound knowledge of business concepts which now makes investigating multinational businesses more accessible to students
Half Term 4 - Global Markets:
Students investigate why businesses enter certain global markets and what barriers exist including tariffs and quotas.
Why we sequence the scheme of work this way
Once students understand the importance of businesses targeting emerging economies, they can now understand the strategies required to implement a global expansion strategy.
Half Term 5 - Global Marketing:
Students investigate the alternative methods of marketing a business to meet multiple cultural markets. This can be done using a glocalisation strategy that is suited to the industry being investigated.
Why we sequence the scheme of work this way
This topic accesses students’ knowledge on marketing from half term 1 and allows them to adapt these strategies to multiple cultural contexts. This is only possible once fundamental marketing concepts are well embedded earlier in the course.
Half Term 6 - Raising Finance:
Students study the alternative methods of internal and external finance and how these decisions can impact the short term cash flow position of a business.
Why we sequence the scheme of work this way
This topic is a great launch pad into the Year 13 curriculum where students understand how the strategies they have proposed throughout Year 12 will be funded. Students are now aware of the risks involved in expansion which makes them more able to make astute financial management recommendations.
Year 13 sequence of lessons
Half Term 1 - Resource Management:
Students study the effective use of alternative methods of production, stock control and quality control. A range of industries are investigated to highlight the best method suited based on context.
Why we sequence the scheme of work this way
Year 13 curriculum focuses on strategic management techniques. Resource management is the bedrock of all other strategic management decisions. For this reason, it is delivered before the decision making tools and strategies are introduced.
Half Term 2 - External Influences
Students look at the external impacts that affect the performance of businesses. Economic impacts such as interest rates, exchanges rates, environmental concerns and the business cycle are considered to recommend contingency planning for unforeseen events.
Why we sequence the scheme of work this way
External influences are introduced at this point to ensure students can effectively complete the SWOT and PESTLE analysis in this next topic. Both of these analyses require a detailed understanding of external influences.
Half Term 3 - Business objectives and strategy
Students use a number of strategic planning tools such as the Ansoff matrix, SWOT and PESTLE analysis. These tool allow students to assess growth strategies for businesses.
Half Term 4 - Decision-making Techniques
Students use a number of quantitative decision making tools such as investment appraisal and decision trees which help provide evidence to management decisions.
Why we sequence the scheme of work this way
Now that the foundational knowledge for management strategy has been laid, students can successfully complete a strategic analysis of a variety of business types.
Half Term 5 - Managing change and stakeholder interests
Students combine various decision making tools to help determine scenario plans for risk minimisation. These take into account the competing interests of various stakeholder groups.
Why we sequence the scheme of work this way
The final topic allows students to investigate scenario planning a techniques based on unforeseen events. Students can draw upon there skills from throughout the course to recommend a course of action for a variety of possible situations. In doing so they will investigate how to come to a negotiated position to satisfy the competing needs of stakeholders.
Half Term 6 - Exam Season
Students may access teaching staff for advice with final exam preparation
Why we sequence the scheme of work this way
All content delivered ahead of public exams.
Career opportunities?
Business Studies is useful if you are considering working in, for example: Management, Sales or Human Resources, Accountancy, Law, Marketing or in any commercial organisation.