Business makes the world go round, regardless of the career profession you choose it will involve some interaction with businesses. Lawyers, Dentists, Artists, Hairdressers will need to have an idea of how to run a successful business. In addition to specialist qualifications, having a in-depth understanding of the business world will be essential in achieving future success. This justifies the need to provide a robust and exhilarating business curriculum at GCSE and A level that is theoretically and practically apt for the global business environment.
Our Business Studies Curriculum opens a wealth of opportunities, developing skills that go beyond simply starting your own business. The courses and enrichment programs we offer at King Edwards VI Handsworth wood Girls’ Academy aim to develop our students’ understanding of how the local/national/global economy works through analysing business issues, problems and enterprises that affect the lives of individuals on a daily basis.
At KS4 students are given the opportunity to build a foundation of business knowledge, focussing on key business concepts, issues and skills involved in starting and running a small business. It provides a framework for students to explore core concepts through the lens of an entrepreneur setting up a business. In their final year of the course, students will delve deeper by examining how a business develops beyond the start-up phase. The course focuses on the key business concepts, issues and decisions used to grow a business, with an emphasis on aspects of marketing, operations, finance and human resources. It also considers the impact of the wider world on the decisions a business makes as it grows.
At KS5 students will embark on a entrepreneurial journey, where along the way they will develop their knowledge and practical skills needed to run a business. They will explore the role of finance in planning an enterprise, analysing and making financial decisions. In addition, to how business organisations use the human, physical and financial resources at their disposal to achieve their dynamic goals. Students will also uncover the importance of enterprising behaviour and how this can be personally utilised to best exploit entrepreneurial opportunities within specific market conditions. Furthermore, students will analyse techniques managers use to organise, motivate and lead employees through change to achieve business objectives. Students will apply their knowledge learnt throughout the course to develop, present and evaluate a business proposal. Students will also create a e-business proposal linked to a business idea of their choice. The course is very enjoyable and informative and most importantly equip students with the transferable and practical skills needed to run a business.
Exam Board: Edexcel GCSE Business 9-1
Exam Specification: https://qualifications.pearson.com/content/dam/pdf/GCSE/Business/2017/specification-and-sample-assessments/GCSE_Business_Spec_2017.pdf
Overview of course structure:
| Theme 1: Investigating Small Business (50%) | Theme 2: Building a Business (50%) |
| Topic 1.1 Enterprise and entrepreneurship | Topic 2.1 Growing the business |
| Topic 1.2 Spotting a business opportunity | Topic 2.2 Making marketing decisions |
| Topic 1.3 Putting a business idea into practice | Topic 2.3 Making operational decisions |
| Topic 1.4 Making the business effective | Topic 2.4 Making financial decisions |
| Topic 1.5 Understanding external influences on business | Topic 2.5 Making human resource decisions |
| Overview of assessment Written examination: 1 hour 30 minutes, 90 marks The paper will consist of calculations, multiple-choice, short-answer and extended-writing questions | Overview of assessment Written examination: 1 hour 30 minutes, 90 marks The paper will consist of calculations, multiple-choice, short-answer and extended-writing questions. |
Exam Board: Edexcel A Level Business
Exam Specification:
Overview of A Level Business course structure:
| Year 12 – 35% (Paper 1) | Year 13 – 35% (Paper 2) |
| Theme 1 – Marketing and people Students will develop an understanding of: meeting customer needs the market marketing mix and strategy managing people entrepreneurs and leaders. Theme 1 – Global business This theme develops the concepts introduced in Theme 1. Students will develop an understanding of: globalisation global markets and business expansion global marketing global industries and companies (multinational corporations). | Theme 2 – Managing business activities Students will develop an understanding of: raising finance financial planning managing finance resource management external influences. Theme 3 – Business decisions and Strategy This theme develops the concepts introduced in Theme 2. Students will develop an understanding of: business objectives and strategy business growth decision-making techniques influences on business decisions assessing competitiveness managing change. |
| Synoptic Assessment – 30% (Paper 3) Paper 3 will assess content across all four themes. Questions will be drawn from local, national and global contexts. For Paper 3, there will be a pre-released context document issued on our website in November of the previous year. A new context will be given to centres each year and will relate to the examination series for the following summer. The context will focus on a broad context, such as an industry or market in which businesses operate. The question paper will be in two sections. The first section will focus on the broad context provided. This will be outlined to centres through the pre-released document. Questions will focus on the broad context. The second section will focus on at least one strand within the context provided, such as a particular business. Each section will contain unseen stimulus materials comprising quantitative and qualitative evidence. Students are required to apply their knowledge and understanding from Themes 1, 2, 3 and 4 and their understanding of the broad context to this evidence. Students cannot take any of their research or investigation data carried out as part of the pre-release into the examination. | |
Students will be set homework on a weekly basis which will be posted onto the Teams Assignment for parents and students to track. Similar to the diverse range of learning activities complete during the lessons, a variety of tasks will also be set for homework and assessment to develop students’ knowledge of the subject, a range of exam techniques and skills essential useful for the work of world.
Kids MBA Programme
KEVI HWGA would like to broaden the leadership and entrepreneurial skills for our Year 9 students. Therefore, we are offering the ‘Kids MBA’ Programme as an enrichment opportunity and require this organisation to be set up as a supplier so we have access to the programme. The Kids MBA Programme is endorsed by a Global Enterprise business called ABE. It is an exciting enterprise programme which is offered all over the worlds to students from ages 11-15. Students can gain the confidence to set up a business and develop real-world business skills. The Kids MBA opens up the concept of self-employment and business leadership to young people from all walks of life. It introduces the concept of sustainability as part of the future business model and it’s also a great introduction to future business studies. At the end of the programme students present their idea to a panel of local business experts.
This is a weekly after school enrichment activity that runs for 12 weeks.
KEVI Enterprise Day
A annual academy day run by the trust. Selected students are invited to a enterprise day. The day will highlight the importance of enterprise skills which are becoming more important than ever in today’s working environment. These include problem-solving, adaptability, resilience, creativity, empathy and leadership. Enterprising people approach challenges in a positive way and have the ability to take a solution forward. There are given presentations by inspirational entrepreneurs and then take part in an exciting Dragons’ Den-inspired activity, which will test their business acumen. They will work in small teams as they plan and design a product, alongside developing effective advertising campaigns.
Educational visits are an integral part of any Business Studies course. They allow students to gain a real life experience of the concepts studied in the classroom. At KEVI HWGA, we endeavour to provide students with varied opportunities to deepen their knowledge and understanding of the broad range of topics explored. The purpose of these visits is to enable students to fully develop their application, analysis and evaluative skills: essential in all elements of written work and examination answers to achieve success at a high level.
Visits have included :-
Year 9 – Kids MBA
Year 10 – Spring 1 to Cadbury World, Entrepreneurial visitor
Year 11 Spring 1 – Amazon Fulfilment Centre, GCSE Business Tutor2u Grade Booster Workshop
Year 12/13 Autumn 2/Spring 1– City of London Financial District Walking Tour & Excursions, Paper 3 Casestudy visit (in the past BMW Oxford, ASOS clothing Factory etc), A Level Business Grade Booster Workshop
Educational visits to business districts in Europe & New York are currently being investigated for future consideration.
