Business Studies

Business Studies Department

Business studies is taught at KS4 and KS5.

KS4

Examination Board -  OCR

Course -  Cambridge Nationals Enterprise and Marketing Level 1/2 Certificate - J837

In Year 9, 10 and 11, we offer the OCR Level 2 Cambridge National Certificate in Enterprise and Marketing. All pupils must complete the following three mandatory units, to gain a GCSE qualification in Business Studies.

 

1. Unit R067: Enterprise and Marketing Concepts – 40% (70mks)

This is assessed by an exam.

In this unit, pupils will learn about the key factors to consider and activities that need to happen to operate a successful small start-up business.

Topics include:

o Characteristics, risk and reward for enterprise

o Market research to target a specific customer

o What makes a product financially viable

o Creating a marketing mix to support a product

o Factors to consider when starting up and running an enterprise.

 

2. Unit R068: Design a Business Proposal – 30% (60mks)

This is assessed by a set assignment.

In this unit, pupils will identify a customer profile for a specific product, complete market research to generate product design ideas, and use financial calculations to propose a pricing strategy and determine the viability of their product proposal.

Topics include:

o Market research

o How to identify a customer profile

o Develop a product proposal for a business brief

o Review whether a business proposal is financially viable

o Review the likely success of the business proposal.

 

1. Unit R069: Market and Pitch a Business Proposal  – 30% (60mks)

This is assessed by a set assignment.

In this unit, students will develop pitching skills to be able to pitch their business proposal to an external audience. Finally, students will review their pitching skills and business proposal using self-assessment and feedback gathered.

Topics include:

o Develop a brand identity to target a specific customer profile

o Create a promotional campaign for a brand and product

o Plan and pitch a proposal

o Review a brand proposal, promotional campaign and professional pitch.

Assessment

 

KS5

Examination Board -  Pearson

Course - National Extended Certificate in Business BTEC Level 3

Students must complete 4 Units to get an A’ Level qualification:

There are three mandatory units that learners must complete, one internal and two external. Learners must complete and achieve at pass grade or above for all these units. Learners must also complete at least 1 optional unit.

Mandatory Units

1. Unit 1: Exploring Business (Coursework unit)

In this introductory unit, learners study the purposes of different businesses, their structure, the effect of the external environment, and how they need to be dynamic and innovative to survive.

 

Learning aims

In this unit students will:

1. Explore the features of different businesses and analyse what makes them successful
2. Investigate how businesses are organised
3. Examine the environment in which businesses operate
4. Examine business markets
5. Investigate the role and contribution of innovation and enterprise to business success.

 

2. Unit 2: Developing a Marketing Campaign (External Exam)

 

In this unit, learners will gain skills relating to, and an understanding of, how a marketing campaign is developed. They will explore different stages of the process that a business goes through when developing its campaign and develop their own campaign for a given product/service. This unit will give students an insight into how important marketing is to business. It will enable them to make an informed choice as to whether they want to specialise in marketing in employment, training or higher education.

 

3. Unit 3: Personal and Business Finance (External Exam)

 

In this unit, learners will study the purpose and importance of personal and business finance. They will develop the skills and knowledge needed to understand, analyse and prepare financial information. This unit will provide a foundation for a number of other finance and business units and will help learners to analyse profitability, liquidity and business efficiency. It will give them the knowledge and understanding to manage their personal finances and background knowledge of business finance and accounting.

 

Optional unit

4. Unit 27 – Work experience in business (Coursework Unit)

In this practical unit, learners will study the benefits of work experience in business. They will reflect on their practical workplace skills, by completing forty hours of appropriate work experience.

Students will learn about different types of work-related learning and their benefits. They will learn what information is needed before starting the placement, and how the placement can help them develop key competencies needed for employability, such as self-management, team working, problem-solving and communication skills. They will learn more about the expectations of different roles, take on relevant work experience, and evaluate their performance through a reflective journal.

Learning aims

In this unit students will:

1. Investigate opportunities for work-related learning
2. Carry out work experience in an appropriate and safe manner
3. Reflect on work experience undertaken and its influence on own personal and professional development

 

All students will complete Unit 1 and 2 in year 12, while Unit 3 and 27 will be completed in year 13. 

Assessment

1.External assessment

This is a summary of the type and availability of external assessment, which is of units making up 58% of the total qualification GLH.

 

Click here to see our curriculum Map

 

2.Internal assessment

Units 1 and 27 will be marked internally by the teacher and internally verified. Samples will be sent to the exam board for quality purposes. Learners will be given Assignment briefs for each unit, and will be expected to complete a series of assignments that meet the criteria for either a pass, merit or Distinction.