Business Studies

SPECIFIC AIMS OF THE DEPARTMENT

The Business Studies Department aim that students will:

develop a lifelong interest in and enjoyment of business subjects;
develop and apply their knowledge and skills to understand today’s business issues in local, national and global contexts;
appreciate the perspectives of different stakeholders in business-related activities;
understand the changing use of technology in business
evaluate the role of technology in business communication, business operation and decision making;
generate enterprising and creative solutions to business problems and issues;
consider the extent to which business activity can be ethical and sustainable;
acquire a range of relevant business and generic skills including decision making, problem solving and interpretation of management information.

EXAM BOARD

CCEA

OVERVIEW OF KEY STAGE 3 CURRICULUM

OVERVIEW OF KEY STAGE 4 CURRICULUM

Year 11:
Unit 1: Starting a Business (40%)
This unit covers:

Creating a Business
Marketing
Business Operations

This unit introduces students to the fundamentals of starting a business, resources needed, types of ownership, stakeholders, marketing and market research, e-business, m-business and business operations.
It is assessed through an external written examination: 1 hour 30 mins with both short structured questions and extended writing.

Year 12:
Unit 2: Developing a Business (40%)
This unit covers:

Human Resources
Business Growth
Finance

In this unit, students examine aspects of human resources, including recruitment and selection, appraisal, training and motivation; business growth and finance, including break-even analysis, cash flow, final accounts and ratio analysis.
It is assessed through an external written examination: 1 hour 30 mins with both short structured questions and extended writing.

Unit 3: Planning a Business (Synoptic) (20%)
The Controlled Assessment task is completed in Year 12. Pupils will have 6 weeks to undertake research for the Controlled Assessment task. Students carry out a research task and examine and evaluate a business plan, communicating their findings in a structured report writing task. The Controlled Assessment will take place in class. The assessment is comprised of a research booklet and a one hour written paper. Pupils’ work in this unit will be internally assessed by their teacher and externally moderated by CCEA.

OVERVIEW OF KEY STAGE 5 CURRICULUM

https://ccea.org.uk/key-stage-4/gcse/subjects/gcse-business-studies-2017

AS BUSINESS STUDIES

Unit 1: introduction to Business (50% of AS; 20% of A level)
This unit introduces students to the business world. It begins, as many businesses do, with the entrepreneur and what motivates individuals to develop business enterprises. Students become familiar with different business ownership structures and the key stakeholder groups that may have an interest in how a business is managed. Students acquire a critical understanding of the central purpose of business activity. Students acquire a detailed understanding of the importance of quality and its significance in the competitive marketplace, including recruiting and training a quality labour force and the production process. Students should appreciate the impact of management and leadership styles on employee motivation and business operations.
This unit is assessed in the form of a written examination. Students will have 1 hour and 30 minutes to complete the assessment. Assessment of this unit will take place at the end of Year 13. Students’ work in this unit will be externally assessed.

Unit 2: Growing the Business (50% of AS; 20% of A level)
In this unit, students explore the role of technology in growing a business and how it helps with decision making. They also understand the impact of competition on a business. Students develop a critical understanding of the marketing process, marketing strategy and the use of e-business. Students also develop an appreciation of the role of accounting and financial information in business decision making and financial control.
This unit is assessed in the form of a written examination. Students will have 1 hour and 30 minutes to complete the assessment. Assessment of this unit will take place at the end of Year 13. Students’ work in this unit will be externally assessed.

A2 BUSINESS STUDIES

Unit 3: A2 1 Strategic Decision Making (30% of A Level)
In this unit students identify business objectives and the potential for these to conflict with those of various stakeholder groups. Students analyse and evaluate stakeholder management strategies. Students gain an insight into business planning and the need to manage risk and uncertainty when developing business strategies. They also analyse the importance of accounting and financial information in making strategic business decisions.
This unit is assessed in the form of a written examination. Students will have 2 hours to complete the assessment. Assessment of this unit will take place at the end of Year 14. Students’ work in this unit will be externally assessed.

Unit 4: A2 2 The Competitive Business Environment (30% of A level)
In this unit students examine the macroeconomic framework that businesses operate in. They evaluate the impact of globalisation on business activities. Students develop an appreciation of the importance of ethics and sustainability on business decision making and culture. They also evaluate the influence of stakeholders on business operations. Students examine how businesses are affected by and react to change in the dynamic and technology-driven business environment.
This unit is assessed in the form of a written examination. Students will have 2 hours to complete the assessment. Assessment of this unit will take place at the end of Year 14. Students’ work in this unit will be externally assessed.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

EXTRA- CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Extra-curricular Activities include:

Young Enterprise NI (YENI) Company Programme for Year 13 pupils.
Year 11 participate in the YENI Industry Masterclass.
Year 10 participate in the YENI Project Business Programme.
Industrial visits to organisations such as Tayto Castle and Coca Cola.
Opportunities to enter competitions, including 'Build a Bank'.

CAREERS

Our students have proceeded into many different career paths such as:

Marketing
Human Resources
Finance
Actuary
Accounting
Banking and Investment
Management
Engineering
Teaching
Retail
Medicine
Setting up their own business