Subject: Business Studies

Examination Board: AQA

Controlled Assessment: 0%

Examination: 100%

Specific entry requirements: A grade 6 in GCSE English is required, and a GCSE in Business Studies would be an advantage, however not essential.

What will you study?

In Year 12 you will study six topics. These include looking at Business Decision Making, Business Activities, the Competitive Environment that Businesses react to and finally we will focus on the Functional Areas, these areas are Finance, Marketing, Operations, and Humans Resources. Students will investigate a range of models and theories that they can apply to the six topics as well as to the real world.

In Year 13 the first of the two topics studied is ‘Strategies for Success’ and includes Financial Strategies to Improve Profits, Strategies to take on the Competition, Operational Strategies to improve products for improving Employee Relations. These are the four cornerstones of a successful business. The second topic is ‘The Business Environment and Managing Change’. This helps you to plan the vision of a business and considers how organisations can best cope with the impact of economic, cultural, political, or technological changes.

What Super Curricular opportunities are there linked to this subject?

The Grocer’s Award is an innovative programme designed to engage and help students in business and with their entrepreneurial skills. The student is given a brief to develop a business idea to an industry standard, then present this idea to a distinguished panel of judges and an audience of company members.

What can this course lead to?

Through studying Business Studies at A-Level, students will be well prepared for degrees in the field of business or finance. Future employment prospects may include working for a corporation or management consultancy. All businesses (and other organisations such as charities and hospitals) need sound business skills to support them.