Business Studies is a dynamic subject that combines key skills like literacy and numeracy in an interesting and relevant real-world context. The Lessons are varied and exciting as we believe that using real business case studies aids the application of the theory. We encourage students to be proactive and work independently to problem solve wherever possible. Students are empowered to peer teach and carry out research projects. Business Studies is offered at GCSE and at A-Level.
GCSE
2014-15 – current
We currently offer the AQA Business Studies GCSE course. The award code is 4133 and consists of units 1, 2 and 3 from the Business Subjects and Economics 4130 specification. Unit 1 and 2 are externally assessed with a written paper. Unit 3 is assessed with a piece of controlled assessment. The controlled assessment is a piece of independent research carried out on a local small business to analyze a particular business function. Please see the table below for the breakdown of how each unit is weighted:
Unit 1 – Setting up a Business
Written Paper
(1 hour)
60 marks/40%
Unit 2 – Growing as a Business
Written Paper
(1 hour)
60 marks/35%
Unit 3 – Investigating Businesses
Controlled Assessment
40 marks/25%
2015-2016 – new
We are introducing the International GCSE (IGCSE) course with Edexcel from May 2015. This will replace the AQA GCSE course. The IGCSE course is rigorous and leads very nicely into the A-Level course. There is no coursework with the IGCSE. All areas are externally assessed by a two hour written examination at the end of the course. The course specification code is 4BSO. Course materials can be found at the following link:
THERE ARE FIVE AREAS OF STUDY ACROSS THE TWO YEARS:
- Business Activity and the Changing Environment
This section examines the objectives of businesses, the changing environment and the criteria for judging success. The focus is on the importance of having clear business objectives and how the business environment provides opportunities for and imposes constraints on, the pursuit of those objectives.
1. Human Resources
This section looks at people in organizations focusing on their roles, relationships, and management in business.
2. Accounting and Finance
This section explores the use of accounting and financial information as an aid to decision making.
3. Marketing
This section focuses on identifying and satisfying customer needs in a changing and competitive international environment.
4. Production
This section examines the way organizations use and manage resources to produce goods and services.
A-LEVEL
2014-2015 – current
We offer the AQA Business Studies A level. The specification code is 2130. The course is divided into four units. The first two are taught and assessed in Year 12 (first year) and the second two are taught and assessed in Year 13 (second year). The assessment format is as follows:
AS – YEAR 12 EXAMINATIONS
Unit 1 – BUSS1
Unit Title: Planning and Financing a Business
40% of AS, 20% of A Level
1 hour 15 minutes examination
60 marks
Short answer questions and extended responses based on a mini case study.
Available June only
Unit 2 – BUSS2
Unit Title: Managing a Business
60% of AS, 30% of A Level
1 hour 30 minutes examination
80 marks
Compulsory, multi-part data response questions.
Available June only
A2 – YEAR 13 EXAMINATIONS
Unit 3 – BUSS3
Unit Title: Strategies for Success
25% of A Level
1 hour 45 minutes examination
80 marks
Questions requiring extended answers based on an unseen case study drawing upon knowledge from AS units
Available June only
Unit 4 – BUSS4
Unit Title: The Business Environment and Managing Change
25% of A Level
1 hour 45 minutes examination
80 marks
Pre-release research tasks leading to the first section of a two-section examination. The second section will consist of a choice of essays. All questions will be essay style and synoptic, therefore, drawing upon knowledge from all four units.
Available June only
2015-2016 – new
The modular element is being removed from all A-Levels and they will become linear from September 2015. All of the assessments will take place at the end of the course. The A level Business Studies specification code will be 7131 for AS Level and 7132 for A2 Level. We will still offer the AQA specification. Replacing the four units of study are 10 topic areas as follows:
- What is a business?
- Managers, leadership and decision making
- Decision making to improve marketing performance
- Decision making to improve operational performance
- Decision making to improve financial performance
- Decision making to improve human resource performance
- Analyzing the strategic position of a business (A-level only)
- Choosing a strategic direction (A-level only)
- Strategic methods: how to pursue strategies (A-level only)
- Managing strategic change (A-level only)
AS LEVEL (YEAR 12) WILL BE ASSESSED USING THE FOLLOWING PAPERS:
Paper 1: Business 1
- Areas 1-6 assessed
- Written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes
- 80 marks in total
- 50% of AS
Three compulsory sections:
- Section A has 10 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) worth 10 marks
- Section B has short answer questions worth approximately 20 marks
- Section C has two data response stimuli
with questions worth approximately 25 marks.
Paper 2: Business 2
- Areas 1-6 assessed
- Written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes
- 80 marks in total
- 50% of AS
One compulsory case study consisting of approximately seven questions.
A2 LEVEL (YEAR 13) WILL BE ASSESSED USING THE FOLLOWING PAPERS:
- Paper 1: Business 1
- Areas 1-10 assessed
- Written exam: 2 hours
- 100 marks in total
- 33.3% of A-level
Three compulsory sections:
- Section A has 15 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) worth 15 marks.
- Section B has short answer questions worth
35 marks.
- Sections C and D have two essay questions (choice of one from two and one from two) worth 25 marks each.
PAPER 2: BUSINESS 2
- Areas 1-10 assessed
- Written exam: 2 hours
- 100 marks in total
- 33.3% of A-level
Three data response compulsory questions worth approximately 33 marks each and made up of three or four-part questions.
PAPER 3: BUSINESS 3
- Areas 1-10 assessed
- Written exam: 2 hours
- 100 marks in total
- 33.3% of A-level
One compulsory case study followed by approximately six questions.
DIGITAL LEARNING IN BUSINESS STUDIES
The world of Business is a fast-paced and constantly changing environment. One of the best things about teaching Business Studies is that the subject changes on a daily basis. We use iPads to help us to keep up to date with the changing external environment. At A-Level Students are expected to read news articles regularly and we frequently have ‘latte lessons’ where everyone will bring along an article that interested them and we discuss and debate the details……the coffee is optional!
It is imperative that students learn how to learn. In my experience, this involves reading and carrying out research. When students do research they learn the skill of synthesis which is imperative to study at a higher level. In Business Studies we use the iPads to encourage students to seek out information and also to deliver teaching materials and peer teaching sessions.
There are many useful websites available and all students are issued with a list of sites and apps that they will find useful day to day and also for revision purposes. A few examples:
www.tutor2u.net
www.bized.co.uk
www.businessstudiesonline.co.uk
www.aqa.org
www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/
ENRICHMENT IN BUSINESS STUDIES
It is very important to be able to put the theory of Business Studies into a real-world context. Annually we organize a trip to a large organization to help students to contextualize the work we do in the classroom. In recent years we have run trips to Cadbury’s World and to Nissan.
We have had a number of students who have left Teesside High School with A-Levels in Business Studies and/or Economics and have gone on to start up their own successful companies or to take on management roles. These students come back and visit us and deliver inspirational talks about their experiences. We look forward to welcoming Kelly Bird in the coming term to talk to us about her business.
Kelly Bird – Stunt Drive North East Ltd.
“I am the company director of Stunt Drive North East Ltd. trading as Stunt Drive Experience. We are the UK’s first and only purpose-built stunt and precision driving arena and we are the only company of its kind to be open 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year. We are a stunt driving experience day company where you get to do the driving. We work with individuals from the general public, the corporate and events sector, and the private sector including stag and hen parties. We teach stunts from handbrake turns and donuts right through to j turn and even driving on two wheels in BMW Z3’s and MINI’s! I am also the leader of the UK’s only female-led stunt and precision driving display team, where we travel throughout the UK doing these displays. I have also been the stunt driver double in films and on TV, I have worked with the likes of BBC One and Discovery Canada. At our venue we also run our Young Driver Experience, teaching 14 to 17-year-olds the basics of driving before being let loose on the roads. We teach everything from clutch control, starting and stopping to steering, changing gear and maneuvers”
Young Enterprise
Young Enterprise is a national enterprise competition. It is a very challenging activity and is open to any student in Year 12. The objective is to turn a business idea into reality. You must plan, finance, market and launch a business idea and trade for one academic year. There are various competitions to attend throughout the year where you will set up and run a trade stand, answer questions from a panel of judges, write a company report and present your idea and experiences in front of your peers and local entrepreneurs. Teesside High School is one of the most successful Young Enterprise teams in the North East of England.
BUSINESS STUDIES CLINIC
If you have any problems or questions then just pop along to the Business Studies clinic and one of our staff will be happy to help. You might want to work through an exam question or go over some homework – we can tailor the session to meet your needs.
WHY TAKE BUSINESS STUDIES?
Business Studies is a well-respected course and is useful if you are exploring careers in a variety of areas including Banking, Law, Human Resources, Accountancy or Business Management. You require literacy and numeracy skills to excel in Business Studies and this makes it a very appealing subject for universities and employers.