Business

Welcome to our latest newsletter, highlighting the dynamic learning and achievements within the Business Department. This term, students across all year groups have shown exceptional dedication, from Year 10's entrepreneurial explorations to Year 13's advanced studies. We're especially proud of our students' success in the Made in Bluewater competition, demonstrating their real-world business skills. Discover how we're preparing our students to excel in the ever-evolving world of business and finance.

The Business Department has been a hive of activity this term, with students across all year groups demonstrating impressive engagement and progress. Here's a summary of what's been happening:

Year 13 Business News:

Our Year 13 Business students have been diligently working towards their academic goals.

• IB Business: IB Business students are working hard to complete the course content and prepare for their Paper 1 exams, having recently received the pre-release for this on My IB. They have also been dedicating significant time to their Internal Assessments (IAs), with many students attending drop-in sessions to refine their work and achieve the highest possible marks. Their efforts will no doubt be rewarded. They have also been working with our business specialist teachers to improve their gaps in knowledge, particularly in finance and the business toolkit.

• BTEC Business: BTEC Business students recently received their results, with a significant number of students improving their grades in Unit 2 and achieving positive results in Unit 3. They are now focused on their Unit 8 coursework, "Recruitment and Selection," and are actively preparing for their interviews as part of the coursework task. Given that most of these students are already employed, they are well-equipped for this challenge!

Year 12 Business News:

We're delighted to announce that our Year 12 BTEC students have achieved a fantastic 100% pass rate in their recent Unit 2 Developing a Marketing Campaign examination! This is a brilliant reflection of their hard work, commitment, and the solid understanding they've developed regarding financial principles. From mastering Marketing principles to creating campaigns for businesses, our students have demonstrated exceptional competence in this vital area of business. Huge congratulations to each and every one of you on this well-deserved success!

BTEC Spotlight: Finance Success in Detail

Our BTEC students demonstrated real-world marketing skills in their Unit 2 assessments. They excelled in:

• Market Research & Analysis: Conducting thorough investigations to identify target markets and customer needs.

• Marketing Planning: Developing comprehensive marketing plans, including setting objectives, selecting marketing mix elements, and budgeting.

• Creative Campaign Development: Designing innovative and engaging marketing campaigns that aligned with their target audience.

• Campaign Evaluation: Assessing the effectiveness of their campaigns and proposing improvements.

• Applying the extended marketing mix: Students showed they could apply the 7ps to a marketing campaign.

Their success reflects their ability to apply marketing theory to practical scenarios, showcasing their creativity and strategic thinking. 

IB Focus: Finance Success in Detail

For our IB students, the Finance section tested their analytical skills and understanding of financial theory. They showed their ability to:

• Interpret and analyse financial data: They demonstrated a strong grasp of how to read and interpret financial statements, enabling them to make sound business decisions.

• Apply financial ratios: Students accurately calculated and analysed key financial ratios to assess the financial health of businesses.

• Understand budgeting and forecasting: They effectively applied budgeting techniques and forecasting methods to plan and manage financial resources.

• Evaluate investment opportunities: Students demonstrated their ability to use investment appraisal methods, like Net Present Value (NPV) and Internal Rate of Return (IRR), to assess the viability of potential investments.

Their success reflects the rigorous preparation and in-depth understanding they gained throughout their finance studies.

Embarking on "Exploring Business" - A New Chapter!

As we celebrate achievements, our Year 12 students are now embarking on the exciting journey of their Unit 1 "Exploring Business" coursework. This unit offers a brilliant opportunity for students to:

• Investigate diverse business types: They will explore the characteristics, ownership structures, and objectives of various businesses, from small startups to multinational corporations.

• Analyse business aims and objectives: Students will examine how businesses set goals and develop strategies to achieve them, considering factors like market demand, competition, and ethical considerations.

• Examine the impact of stakeholders: They will investigate how different stakeholders, such as customers, employees, and suppliers, influence and are influenced by business activities.

• Understand the business environment: Students will analyse the external factors that affect businesses, including economic, social, technological, and legal influences.

• Complete a detailed report: Students will be completing a detailed report, that analyses two different businesses, and how they operate.

This coursework encourages students to apply their knowledge to real-world business scenarios, fostering critical thinking, research, and analytical skills. We encourage students to utilise local businesses for their research, and to conduct primary research, to improve the quality of their work.

Year 11 GCSE Updates:

Our Year 11 students have successfully completed the AQA GCSE Business content and are now focused on exam preparation. We have dedicated a significant portion of our time to developing essential exam skills, particularly:

• Developing chains of analysis: Students are working hard to improve their ability to construct well-reasoned arguments for 6, 9, and 12-mark questions, an area where we have identified that many students are losing marks.

To provide additional support, we have been working closely with the Leigh Academy Trust Business Curriculum Advisor to help a number of students further enhance their essay writing skills.

In addition to this, students are:

• Engaging in content revision: Focusing on key topics to solidify their understanding.

• Practising exam writing: Hone their skills in answering exam-style questions effectively.

• Increasing engagement: Students are demonstrating greater self-awareness in identifying knowledge gaps and actively addressing misconceptions.

• Attending interventions: Students are taking advantage of more frequent after-school interventions on Thursdays.

We strongly encourage all Year 11 students to utilise the resources available to them, including:

• Past papers on Google Classroom

• Revision slides

• The revision website

• Seneca

• Quizlet

Their AQA GCSE Business exams (Paper 1 and Paper 2) are fast approaching in May. We wish them the very best in their final preparations.

Year 10 Highlights:

Our Year 10 students have been immersed in the world of business start-ups, exploring the key concepts of Topic 1.3: Putting a Business Idea into Practice. This has included a deep dive into:

• Business aims and objectives: Students have analysed the difference between financial and non-financial objectives, considering how businesses set goals for survival, profit, social impact, and personal fulfillment.

• Business revenues, costs, and profits: They've grasped essential calculations and concepts like revenue, fixed and variable costs, break-even analysis, and the crucial margin of safety. This has helped them understand how businesses manage their finances and make informed decisions.

• Cash and cash flow: Students have learned about the importance of cash for paying suppliers, preventing insolvency, and the distinction between cash and profit. They've also been introduced to cash flow forecasting, understanding inflows, outflows, and net cash flow.

• Sources of business finance: They've investigated the various sources of finance available to start-ups and small businesses, including short-term options like overdrafts and trade credit, and long-term options like personal savings, venture capital, loans, and crowdfunding.

Building on this, Year 10 are now moving onto Topic 1.4: Making the Business Effective, where they will be exploring:

• Options for start-up and small businesses: The concept of limited liability, and the advantages and disadvantages of different business ownership structures such as sole traders, partnerships, and private limited companies, and franchising.

• Business location: Factors influencing business location decisions, including proximity to markets, labor, materials, and the impact of e-commerce.

• The marketing mix: Understanding the importance of price, product, promotion, and place, and how these elements work together to achieve business objectives.

• Business plans: The role and importance of business plans, and the purpose of planning business activity to minimize risk and secure funding.

The Year 10s have also recently completed their end-of-topic assessments, and the results are promising, showcasing keen interest and a real entrepreneurial spirit within the year group.

Success and Praise 

Success in the Made in Bluewater Competition:

The Business and Finance Department is incredibly proud of our students' achievements in the annual Made in Bluewater competition.

• Congratulations to the group of Mikkel, Lucia, Priyaa and Tyler who achieved Runners-Up status.

• A special well done to the winning group: Leo, Lakshdeep, Precious and Keira who will now be progressing to the National Competition. We wish them the best of luck as they represent our school!

Entrepreneurs Award (Students showing entrepreneurial spirit and has been performing excellent in the subject): Shane Edwards (Y12) Laura Szczesniak (Y10) Aliyah Abimbola (Y10) Ethan Rayner De Freitas (Y10) Freddie Grange (Y10) Ezmie Lewington 

Department Update: Exam Preparation & Future Opportunities

The Business Department is focused on supporting our Year 11 and Year 13 students as they approach crucial exams.

Year 13: With their first external examinations scheduled for next month, exam preparation is now a priority. Focused revision, consistent exam practice, and attendance at intervention sessions are essential for success. We will be running an intervention session on Thursday 10th April during the Easter break, and strongly encourage all students to attend.

Year 11: Similarly, Year 11 students face their Business examinations in May. Effective revision strategies and dedicated preparation are vital. We are also running an intervention session on Thursday 10th April during the Easter break, and strongly encourage all students to attend.

Beyond exam preparation, the department is committed to providing enriching experiences that enhance students' understanding of the business world. We are actively planning educational trips and inviting industry guest speakers to provide practical insights and real-world perspectives. These initiatives will offer students opportunities to engage with business concepts in dynamic and interactive ways. Details regarding these events will be communicated shortly.

We urge all students to remain focused and utilise the resources available to them. Consistent effort during this period will significantly contribute to their academic achievements.

Author:

Mr Walker - Director of Learning for Business and T-Levels