Business studies

The Business Studies curriculum enables students to understand more about the business world. It enables students to develop as commercially minded and enterprising individuals who think critically, drawing on business information and evidence to develop arguments and make justified decisions. The study of business motivates and challenges students, and prepares them to make informed decisions about further study and career pathways.

The curriculum enables students to:

• know and understand business concepts, business terminology, business objectives, the integrated nature of business activity and the impact of business on individuals and wider society

• apply knowledge and understanding to contemporary business issues and to different types and sizes of businesses in local, national and global contexts

• develop as enterprising individuals with the ability to think commercially and creatively to demonstrate business acumen, and draw on evidence to make informed business decisions and solve business problems

• develop as effective and independent students, and as critical and reflective thinkers with enquiring minds

• use an enquiring, critical approach to make informed judgements

• investigate and analyse real business opportunities and issues to construct well argued, well-evidenced, balanced and structured arguments, demonstrating their depth and breadth of understanding of business

• develop and apply quantitative skills relevant to business, including using and interpreting data

BUSINESS CURRICULUM INFORMATION FOR YEARS 9-11

Year	Term	Units of Work	Assessments
9	Autumn
	Spring
	Summer	Unit R065: Design a business proposal. 25% - Internally assessed assignment.	R065 25% Internally Assessed Coursework
10	Autumn	Unit R065: Design a business proposal. 25% - Internally assessed assignment.	R065 25% Internally Assessed Coursework
	Spring	Unit R066: Market and pitch a business proposal. 25% - Internally assessed assignment.	R066 25% Internally Assessed Coursework
	Summer	Unit R066: Market and pitch a business proposal. 25% - Internally assessed assignment.	R066 25% Internally Assessed Coursework
11	Autumn	Unit R064: Enterprise and marketing concepts. 50% - Externally assessed written assessment.	Unit R064 50% External Exam
	Spring	Unit R064: Enterprise and marketing concepts. 40% - Externally assessed written assessment.	Unit R064 50% External Exam

VOCATIONAL COURSE INFORMATION

Qualification & Board	OCR - Cambridge Nationals Enterprise and Marketing Level 1/2 Certificate
Course Content (for A level, how this follows on from GCSE)	The course is practical introduction to life and work as an entrepreneur, pupils will: Develop an aptitude in planning and carrying out an enterprise activity. Develop the knowledge that underpins the effective use of skills that can affect the performance of an enterprise. Develop attitudes and ways of working that are important for enterprise. Course content includes: The need for customer segmentation. Types of market segmentation. The benefits of market segmentation. The purpose of market research Primary (field) market research methods (physical or digital). Secondary (desk) market research sources. The types of customer feedback techniques available to business start-ups. Understanding what makes a product or service financially viable. Understand product development. Extension strategies for products in the product lifecycle. How to create product differentiation. The impact of external factors on product development. Understand how to attract and retain customers. Understand factors for consideration when starting up a business. Understand different functional activities needed to support a business startup.
Potential Career paths	Law, Accountancy, Marketing, Running your own business
Assessments (inc. field work / assessed practicals)	The course is made up of three units: Unit R064: Enterprise and marketing concepts. 50% - Externally assessed written assessment. Unit R065: Design a business proposal. 25% - Internally assessed assignment. Unit R066: Market and pitch a business proposal. 25% - Internally assessed assignment.
Core or Option	Option
No Option Choices (GCSE only)
No. GCSE / A Level equivalent	1 GCSE Equivalent