Departments

Business Studies

“In the business world everyone is paid in two coins: cash and experience. Take the experience first, the cash will come later.” (Harold Geneen)

Teaching Staff

Mr Colin Graham (HoD)

Mr D Robinson

Mr Jonny Simpson

Aims

• To promote the understanding of business and enterprise in today's dynamic and every changing global economy.
• To achieve the academic and cross curricular skills necessary for the pupils in the world of work.
• To enrich pupils’ experiences in their personal challenges they encounter in the study of business education.
• To develop a passion and enthusiasm for the subject.

Curriculum

Business Studies is the study of organisations. It relates itself to human behaviour in terms of the creation and distribution of human wealth. It focuses the constantly changing nature of business enterprise and the interdependence of the various parts of the business world.
The subject is academic but provides pupils with personal and vocational skills of communication, problem solving, team working and decision making.

GCSE

The CCEA Business Studies specification is followed. This comprises two written examinations. Paper 1 is based on a pre-seen case study (30%) and paper 2 includes 4 compulsory sections (50%). A piece of written coursework (20%) is also required.

AS

Pupils follow the AQA Business Studies specification. At AS level 2 modules are followed:
Unit 1: Planning and Financing a Business Unit 2: Managing a Business
Unit 1 considers an understanding of a range of activities involved in starting a small business, with emphasis on the financial concepts.
Unit 2 introduces pupils to the improvement of the effectiveness of a business.

A2

Pupils follow the AQA Business Studies specification.
Unit 3: Strategies for Success
Unit 4: Business Environment and Managing Change
In Unit 3 pupils consider the core themes of setting objectives, measuring performance and devising strategies.
Unit 4 is designed to be synoptic. It examines the external factors and considers large businesses that are strategically managed through leadership and corporate culture.

Facilities & Resources

Business Studies is taught by specialist teachers. We have 2 fully equipped classrooms for data projection and audio-visual technology.
Pupils are encouraged to make use of the Times case studies, Business Magazine, biz-ed, bite size and our DVD collection covering many innovative business practices.

Achievements and Successes

The department organises a number of industrial visits to Tayto, Coca Cola and Bombardier Shorts.
The department is responsible for the delivery of the Young Enterprise company programme.
Both GCSE and AS and A2 examination results are statistically higher than the national average in each area.
Past pupil achievements include Entrepreneurship in the world of music and past pupil success in gaining bursaries while studying at a range of business-related courses in various universities.