Departmental Staff
| Ms H Kempin | Curriculum Leader (Business) |
| Mr K Grewal | Law / Business Studies |
| Mr L Wharton | Business Teacher |
The vision of the department for all pupils is as follows:
- Achieve your best
- Have high expectations
- Be ambitious
As a set of staff we are committed to provide the best education possible in our respective subjects. We aim to not just match targets – but to exceed them. The department is based in 4 specialist ICT rooms and 1 specialist classroom.
Key Stage 4 (year 9 – 11)
GCSE Business Studies – Edexcel
Who will be teaching me?
The course is delivered by staff who have a wealth of experience of Business Studies, all have an excellent knowledge of the course and requirements of the exam boards all of which is backed up with practical experience in the business industry which enables students to draw links from theoretical concepts and really life experiences, which is used to inspire students and support progress. The department prides itself on providing excellent support to all its students.
Theme 1: Investigating small business
- Enterprise and entrepreneurship
- Spotting a business opportunity
- Putting a business idea into practice
- Making the business effective
- Understanding external influences on business
Theme 2: Building a business
- Growing the business
- Making marketing decisions
- Making operational decisions
- Making financial decisions
- Making human resource decisions.
How will I be assessed?
Paper 1: Questions drawn from Theme 1
Paper 2: Questions drawn from Theme 2
Both papers are 1 hour 45 minutes and are divided into three sections:
Section A: 35 marks
Section B: 30 marks
Section C: 25 marks.
The papers will consist of calculations, multiple-choice, short-answer and extended-writing questions.
Questions in Sections B and C will be based on business contexts given in the paper.
Calculators may be used in the examination.
Career paths
This qualification in business will: enable students to understand more about the business world motivate and challenge students, and prepare them to make informed decisions about further study and career pathways.
Students can progress from this qualification to a number of different academic and vocational qualifications at Level 3, including GCEs in Business, History, Geography, Economics and Psychology and BTEC Nationals in Business.
The knowledge and skills gained from GCSE Business support students’ entry into employment or other training in specific aspects of business, such as apprenticeships and vocational qualifications which focus on more specialised business areas.
GCSE Business provides a strong foundation for employment, with students progressing, with further training, to a wide range of careers training such as banking, sales, product management and general management.
A-level Business
Course description
The Pearson Edexcel Level 3 Advanced GCE in Business is structured into four themes and consists of three externally examined papers. Students are introduced to business in Themes 1 and 2 through building knowledge of core business concepts and applying them to business contexts to develop a broad understanding of how businesses work. Breadth and depth of knowledge and understanding, with applications to a wider range of contexts and more complex business information, are developed in Themes 3 and 4, requiring students to take a more strategic view of business opportunities and issues. Students are encouraged to use an enquiring, critical and thoughtful approach to the study of business, to understand that business behaviour can be studied from a range of perspectives and to challenge assumptions.
What will I study?
Year 1 – Theme 1
- Meeting customer needs
- The market
- Marketing mix and strategy
- Managing people
- Entrepreneurs and leaders.
Year 1 – Theme 2
- Raising finance
- Financial planning
- Managing finance
- Resource management
- External influences.
Year 2 – Theme 3
This theme develops the concepts introduced in Theme 2. Students will develop an understanding of:
- Business objectives and strategy
- Business growth
- Decision-making techniques
- Influences on business decisions
- Assessing competitiveness
- Managing change.
Year 2 – Theme 4
This theme develops the concepts introduced in Theme 1. Students will develop an understanding of:
- Globalisation
- Global markets and business expansion
- Global marketing
- Global industries and companies (multinational corporations).How will I be assessed?
Paper 1: Marketing, people and global business (35%)
Paper 1 will assess marketing, people and global businesses. Questions will be drawn from Themes 1 and 4, and from local, national and global contexts.
Overview of assessment
Written examination.
The paper comprises two sections.
Students answer all questions from both sections.
Sections A and B each comprise one data response question broken down into a number of parts, including one extended open-response question.
Duration: 2 hours.
100 marks available.
Paper 2: Business activities, decisions and strategy (35%)
Paper 2 will assess business finance and operations, business decisions and strategy. Questions will be drawn from Themes 2 and 3, and from local, national and global contexts.
Overview of assessment
- Written examination.
- The paper comprises two sections.
- Students answer all questions from both sections.
- Sections A and B each comprise one data response question broken down into a number of parts, including one extended open-response question.
- Duration: 2 hours.
- 100 marks availablePaper 3: Investigating a business in a competitive environment (30%)
Paper 3 will assess content across all four themes. Questions will be drawn from local, national and global contexts. For Paper 3, there will be a pre-released context document issued on our website in November of the previous year. A new context will be given to centres each year and will relate to the examination series for the following summer. The context will focus on a broad context, such as an industry or market in which businesses operate. The question paper will be in two sections. The first section will focus on the broad context provided. This will be outlined to centres through the pre-released document. Questions will focus on the broad context. The second section will focus on at least one strand within the context provided, such as a particular business. Each section will contain unseen stimulus materials comprising quantitative and qualitative evidence. Students are required to apply their knowledge and understanding from Themes 1, 2, 3 and 4 and their understanding of the broad context to this evidence. Students cannot take any of their research or investigation data carried out as part of the pre-release into the examination.
Overview of assessment
- Written examination.
- The paper comprises two sections.
- Students answer all questions from both sections.
- Sections A and B each comprise one data response question broken down into
a number of parts, including one extended open-response question.
- Duration: 2 hours.
- 100 marks available.
How will I develop over the two years?
Students will apply their knowledge and understanding to real-life business contexts, with updated content to reflect the issues impacting on modern businesses in our specification and real business case studies in all our assessments. Students will develop transferable skills that support higher education study and the transition to employment, including numeracy, communication, an understanding of the business environment and commercial awareness.
Potential Career paths
Students can progress from this qualification to:
higher education courses such as business management, business administration, accountancy and finance, human resource management, marketing, retail management, tourism management and international business
a wide range of careers ranging from banking, sales, product management and general management to working in public sector organisations or charities.
A-level Law
Why study Law?
Students will learn about the legal system, law making, the nature of law, criminal law, the law of tort and human rights law or the law of contract.
Law students develop a range of skills including the application of legal rules and principles to present an argument, analysis and evaluation of the law, legal issues and concepts.
Why is A Level Law important?
A Level Law provides an introduction to law. It allows students to learn about a fascinating subject, one which covers many aspects of life. Students of A Level Law will:
- Develop an understanding of law and how it works
- Learn more about society from a legal perspective – both contemporary and historical
- Learn about the interaction between law and morals, justice and society
- Learn about different areas of law – e.g. criminal law, human rights, contract and tort
- Make connections with business, economics, history, politics and technology
- Develop academic skills, including analysis and evaluation
- Be able to make an informed decision about future careers.
Are you . . ?
- Are you interested in a becoming a solicitor, barrister or legal executive?
- Are you interested in a career in business?
- Are you interested in a career in politics or government?
- Are you studying business or economics?
- Are you studying humanities or social science subjects?
- Are you interested in debating controversial issues?
Have you ever wondered . . ?
- Why do we need law?
- How are laws made?
- How do judges make decisions?
- What are the different types of court and how do they operate?
- How do people become solicitors or barristers?
What are the benefits?
A Level Law provides a fascinating insight into so many different disciplines. There are many benefits of studying A Level Law. It links all aspects of society.
It helps students develop a range of transferable skills: analytical skills, attention to detail, logical thinking, research skills, essay writing skills and the ability to produce a balanced argument.
The course is engaging and encourages the learner to experience the ‘law in action’. Visits to the criminal and civil courts, the Houses of Parliament and other related places of interest, bring the subject to life.
What’s included
A Level Law covers a wide range of subject content including:
- The legal system
- Law making
- Criminal law
- The law of tort
- The nature of law
- and a choice of human rights law or the law of contract.
How will you be assessed?
A Level Law are assessed by written examinations. The A Level qualification consists of three exam papers.
Content of COMPONENT 1 – The Nature of Law and the English Legal System – 1 hour and 30 minutes written exam.
- Section A – Law making and the nature of law
- Section B – The English legal system and the nature of law
Content of COMPONENT 2: Substantive Law in Practice – Written examination: 2 hours 15 minutes
- Section A – Law of contract (private law)
- Section B – Law of tort (private law)
- Section C – Criminal law (public law)
Content of COMPONENT 3: Perspectives of Substantive Law – Written examination: 2 hours 15 minutes
One essay question from three different sections, selected from:
- Section A – Law of contract (private law)
- Section B – Law of tort (private law)
- Section C – Criminal law (public law)
Where can the qualification take me?
Students wishing to continue their legal studies after A Levels can opt for a university degree or work-based apprenticeship.
Both of these routes can lead to the qualifications required to become a solicitor, barrister or legal executive.
Other popular careers include the police, teaching, social work, business and accounting.
