Course Overview
Business is a dynamic subject. You will learn about the diverse nature of business enterprise and the interdependence of the various parts of the business world. You will explore business success and business failure, investigate local, national and global business markets, and understand how businesses need to adapt and respond strategically to the changing environment in which they operate to survive and grow. This constant evolutionary process makes business a fascinating subject.
Entry Qualifications
In addition to the standard College entry requirements (see below) this course also requires students to have achieved grade 4 or above in GCSE Mathematics and grade 5 or above in GCSE English Language.
What will I study?
Business is a dynamic subject. You will learn about the diverse nature of business enterprise and the interdependence of the various parts of the business world. You will explore business success and business failure, investigate local, national and global business markets, and understand how businesses need to adapt and respond strategically to the changing environment in which they operate to survive and grow. This constant evolutionary process makes business a fascinating subject.
How will I study?
In class we aim to develop the ability to analyse and evaluate business activity. Classwork is designed to develop the concepts and ideas that you have prepared for the lesson. Written work is set on a regular basis to develop understanding of the course content. Students are expected to develop their interest in business affairs through reading, social media, links with firms and using Moodle, textbooks and materials available through the mass media. The course will help the development of many key skills.
In recent years we have undertaken overseas visits to New York, local visits to Jaguar Land Rover and Speedo HQ as well as guest speakers from Pukka Pies and HSBC with the aim of enhancing students’ real like understanding of business.
How is the course examined?
Paper 1 – You will tackle data response and essay questions on marketing, people and global businesses – this is the content you study in Theme 1 and Theme 4.
Paper 2 – You will tackle data response and essay questions on business activities, decisions and strategy – this is the content you study in Theme 2 and Theme 3.
Paper 3 – You will have a research task before the exam. The questions in the exam (data response and essay questions) are linked to the context you will research.
Where next?
Through studying business you will develop transferable skills that will prepare you for studying at university or moving into the world of work. You will become skilled in making decisions, solving problems, applying numerical skills (including understanding finance and working with data) and understanding the business environment. You will also develop commercial awareness. Suitable higher education courses include business management, accountancy and finance, marketing, tourism management and international business. Business students can also progress to a wide range of careers, such as banking, sales, product management and general management, to working in public sector organisations or charities.
What does the course combine well with?
Business related careers usually involve numerical work, computer skills and often foreign languages, and so additional Advanced Level courses in these subjects make good partners. Psychology is another popular choice, but most subjects fit in well with Business.
College Entry Requirements
We normally expect applicants to have achieved good GCSE passes in at least six subjects, these must:
• demonstrate the suitability for Advanced Level study
• have been achieved at Grade 4/C as a minimum
• include two at Grade 5/B as a minimum
• include English Language – a minimum grade of 4/C
Mathematics – If not achieved within the scope of the above should normally be achieved at grade 3/D. If mathematics is not achieved at grade 4/C then it will be a requirement to continue to study at the correct level until a grade 4 is achieved. Subjects with a mathematical content will require a higher grade.
