The Business Studies Department is a successful, innovative and popular department, with four groups in each year of the Sixth Form.
The Business Studies course develops pupils’ understanding of business activity in the public and private sectors, and the importance of innovation and change. Pupils learn how firms are established, financed and run, and how their activities are regulated. Factors influencing business risk-taking and decision-making are considered, as are the essential values of cooperation and interdependence. Through their studies, pupils not only learn about business concepts and techniques but also enhance related skills such as numeracy and evaluation. Many pupils use the course as a stepping stone to Business higher education. We currently have pupils reading a selection of Business Studies, Finance, Marketing, International Business and Business Management at universities such as Newcastle, Southampton, Manchester, LSE, The European Business School, Warwick and Exeter.
Our main aim is to create a rewarding and stimulating learning experience for pupils, providing a broad range of transferable skills and useful knowledge in preparation for further study and working life.
- A LEVEL BUSINESS STUDIES
Entry requirements: Grade 4/5 in IGCSE English and Mathematics or equivalent.
A business qualification prepares you for a degree or career in business, which may stretch across any sector or industry. Industries as diverse as banking, chemicals, utilities, fashion, health, grocery and construction all require managers with a clear understanding of systems, efficiency and operational issues. Opportunities exist in the private, public and voluntary sectors, both in the UK and overseas.
All universities offer Business courses varying from Business Studies to Accounting to Business Management. Many courses now offer an industrial placement year which can prepare pupils for a life in business.
What will I study?
- What is 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
- Analysing the strategic position of a business
- Choosing strategic direction
- Strategic methods: how to pursue strategies
- Managing strategic change
Four papers are sat covering syllabus topics, comprising short questions, case studies and essay questions.
The more competitive universities may see a combination of Business Studies and Economics as too narrow. If you are thinking of choosing both these courses, please contact Mr Philpott at [email protected]
- IB BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
Entry requirements: Grade C in IGCSE English and Mathematics or equivalent
A business qualification prepares you for a degree or career in business, which may
stretch across any sector or industry. Industries as diverse as banking, chemicals,
utilities, fashion, health, grocery and construction all require managers with a clear
understanding of systems, efficiency and operational issues. Opportunities exist in the
private, public and voluntary sectors, both in the UK and overseas.All universities offer Business courses varying from Business Studies to Accounting to
Business Management. Many courses now offer an industrial placement year which can
prepare pupils for a life in business.- Unit 1: Business organization and environment
- Unit 2: Human resource management
- Unit 3: Finance and accounts
- Unit 4: Marketing
- Unit 5: Operations management
- Unit 6: Business Strategy (HL only)
Two papers at the end of the year worth 40 and 35% one on a pre-issued case study. Internal Assessment is worth 25%
- BTEC LEVEL 3 NATIONAL EXTENDED CERTIFICATE IN BUSINESS
Exam board: Pearson
BTEC Business Level 3 national certificate is equivalent to one A level and carries the same level of UCAS (university entry points). It can be studied alongside A levels.
Pupils learn to research, give presentations, produce papers and projects, work in teams, develop their communication skills and study a wide range of business topics. There is feedback at the end of each unit, allowing students to develop a clear sense of how they are progressing.
The structure of the qualification allows a great deal of choice and flexibility. All pupils take core units which introduce the fundamentals of business organisations as well as other units from more specialist areas.Pupils will take 4 units in total, including 3 compulsory units:
- Exploring business
- Developing a marketing campaign
- Personal & Business Finance (exam)
They will also take 1 optional unit, choosing from:
- Recruitment and Selection
- Investigating Customer service
- Creative Product Promotion
- Pitching for a New Business
- Training and Development
- Market research
Pupils could be assessed on:
- Producing a Business plan
- Creating a PowerPoint presentation
- Designing Excel documents
- Written documents, e.g. Memo, Report, briefing document
- Longer written analysis and evaluation
- Observation sheets from teachers
Coursework – 42%
Supervised assessment (with pre- release material and research) – 47%
- ACTIVITIES AND SOCIETIES
Trips have included visiting the Brown and co Farming day, Kettle Foods factory and numerous visits to companies for the IB Business Management IA. We have also been running Gresham’s Enterprise for the past 4 years, where pupils get the chance to invent products, source them and sell them in order to generate profit for the school charity.
ALUMNI
BARON REITH OF STONEHAVEN
BENGAL LODGE 1904 – 06
Founder of BBC.