Staff |
Mrs A.
Ballance
(Responsible for Business Studies)
Ms
Sharrett
Mr N. Folland (Deputy Head)
|
Taught at GCSE, AS and A level.
Recently achieving some of the best results in the
school. The school uses the AQA examining board. Full
details of specifications are available on the website: www.aqa.org.uk
GCSE
The course includes an introduction to Business Organisation,
Marketing, Human Resource Management, Financial aspects
and External influences on business.
25% of the qualification is examined through a Business
Studies course work handed out in the summer term of
Year 10. The remainder is examined in two 1½ hour
exams.
The course text book is Business Studies B 2nd edition
by Needham & Dransfield Hodder & Stoughton
and another excellent book is Business Studies by Anderton
Causeway Press. These are used alongside up-to-date
articles and news from the Business News.
The students have opportunities to visit businesses
such as McDonalds and local manufacturing companies.
They have also had educational visits to places such
as Cadbury’s World in Birmingham and Alton Towers
in Staffordshire, where they are given talks and tours
that emphasise the reality of Business.
AS & A2
Business Studies is a popular A level subject which
contains a mixture of coursework and exams. It requires
an analytical mind with an ability to study through
a variety of learning materials. The department has
particular strengths in knowledge of real business
situations and experience.
There is no requirement to have GCSE Business Studies
to study at AS level although this is a definite advantage.
The specification covers all the aspects of Business
studied at GCSE level but in more depth. Units of study
include Business Finance, Marketing, Business Organisation
and Finance, People and Operations Management and External
Influences and Objectives and Strategy.
The AS level is 50% of the A2 qualification and is
taken in 3 Units. Unit
1 on Marketing and Finance is taken early in the Lent
term. The other two Units have a pre-released case
study, which is used to examine People in Organisations
and Operations Management in the Trinity term.
The A2 qualification has two Units examined making
80% of the marks and 20% through a Case Study carried
out on a business topic.
Full details of both specifications are on the AQA
website (see above).
The course textbook is Business Studies by Ian Marcouse
et al, Hodder & Stoughton 2001. Further resources
include Business Studies by Malcolm Sturridge & Andrew
Gillespie as well as the Business Review, a quarterly
publication published by Philip Alan Updates.
Good websites include www.bized.ac.uk , www.times100.com , www.FT.com ,
as well as many other organisation and trade association
websites.
There is a need for students to have an awareness
of current Business Stories through newspapers, some
of which can be found in the school library. The
department orders daily copies of The Times and Financial
Times.
Students are encouraged to extend their knowledge
of the subject through entry in the Young Enterprise
project.
Students have opportunities to visit local businesses
as well as lectures at local universities that may
be relevant and revision courses by the examining board.
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