Business Studies

Business makes the world go round! Our curriculum introduces students to the world of businesses and looks at what makes someone a successful businessperson. The course explores the interdependence of economic prosperity, societal well-being and the environment and encourages learners to think and act as responsible and ethical citizens.

Students will be provided with a set of foundational skills, understandings and personal attributes, which will help them to engage with the dynamic business environment and fulfil their potential in their personal and professional lives, now and into the future.

At Key Stage 4, students will find out how entrepreneurs develop an idea, spot an opportunity and turn that into a successful business. They understand how to make a business effective and manage money. Students will also see how the world around us affects small businesses and all the people involved. They will explore financial aspects of business and be able to interpret and analyse real life business scenarios.

At Key Stage 5, our curriculum builds on students’ learning at KS4 but also provides opportunities for students to begin studying business for the first time at sixth form. Our curriculum encourages students to develop an appreciation of how their lives are shaped by economic and social factors. They are enabled to make informed decisions, to better manage their personal financial resources and to be adaptable, creative, and enterprising.

In both Key Stages, Business Studies supports the development of analytical and critical thinking skills, encouraging students to be problem solvers. It reinforces the development of students’ numeracy, literacy and digital technology skills by providing a real-life context for their application.

GCSE business studies

Year 10

Brief overview of expected learning and outcomes during this year

The Year 10 Business Studies curriculum covers Theme 1 – Investigating Small Business. This is the content for Paper 1 at the end of year 11. The exam is 90 minutes long and worth 50% of your final grade.

List of topics taught

1.1 Enterprise and entrepreneurship

1.2 Spotting a business opportunity

1.3 Putting a business idea into practice

1.4 Making the business effective

1.5 Understanding external influences on business

Year 11

Brief overview of expected learning and outcomes during this year

The Year 10 Business Studies curriculum covers Theme 2 – Building a Business. This is the content for Paper 2 at the end of year 11. The exam is 90 minutes long and worth 50% of your final grade.

List of topics taught

2.1 Growing the business

2.2 Making marketing decisions

2.3 Making operational decisions

2.4 Making financial decisions

2.5 Making human resource decisions

For more information, please click here.

A level business studies

Year 12
Brief overview of expected learning and outcomes during this year	The Year 12 business studies curriculum covers theme 1 – Marketing and people and theme 2 – Managing business activities.
List of topics taught	Meeting customer needs The market Marketing mix and strategy Managing people Entrepreneurs and leaders Raising finance Financial planning Managing finance Resource management External influences
Year 13
Brief overview of expected learning and outcomes during this year	The Year 12 business studies curriculum covers theme 3 – Business decisions and strategy, and theme 4 – Global business. Students will also research a pre-released context document which is released in November from Edexcel.
List of topics taught	Globalisation Global markets and business expansion Global marketing Global industries and companies (multinational corporations) Business objectives and strategy Business growth Decision-making techniques Influences on business decisions Assessing competitiveness Managing change

For more information, click here.

BTEC business studies

Year 12

Brief overview of expected learning and outcomes during this year

The Year 12 Business Studies curriculum covers Theme 1 – Marketing and People and Theme 2 – Managing Business Activities.

List of topics taught

Meeting customer needs

The market

Marketing mix and strategy

Managing People

Entrepreneurs and leaders

Raising finance

Financial Planning

Managing finance

Resource management

External influences

Year 13

Brief overview of expected learning and outcomes during this year

The Year 12 Business Studies curriculum covers Theme 3 – Business Decisions and Strategy, and Theme 4 – Global Business. Students will also research a pre-released context document which is released in November from Edexcel.

List of topics taught

Globalisation

Global markets and business expansion

Global marketing

Global industries and companies (multinational corporations)

Business objectives and strategy

Business growth

Decision-making techniques

Influences on business decisions

Assessing competitiveness

Managing change

For more information, please click here.

“I love Business Studies so much, I went on to study it at sixth form and I’m going to study it at university. The Business staff really helped me to be the best I could be and challenged me in lessons so I could make excellent progress.”

Hermitage Academy student

Business studies has provided me with the skills I need to succeed at university. The staff were always there to help me and I really enjoyed my lessons.

Hermitage Sixth Form student