Business
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Business studies provides students with the knowledge and understanding that underpins modern business, from small enterprises to large, global firms. The curriculum explores the entrepreneurial mind-set as well as essential technical skills required to be successful in business, encouraging students to analyse and justify choices using independent research and robust data.
Year 10
Students are introduced to the Edexcel GCSE Business course, developing an understanding of entrepreneurship, small businesses and business decision-making through real-world contexts. Students explore how businesses identify opportunities, meet customer needs, manage resources and respond to external influences.
The curriculum encourages students to think creatively and critically about business issues while developing financial awareness, problem-solving skills and commercial understanding. Students begin to apply business concepts to a range of local, national and global organisations, preparing them for further study and future employment.
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• Enterprise and entrepreneurship, including the characteristics and skills of successful entrepreneurs |
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Year 10 Assessment Points: • End-of-topic GCSE-style assessments |
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Key Vocabulary Enterprise, entrepreneur, revenue, profit, market research, segmentation, competitor, cash flow, finance, marketing mix, promotion, legislation, stakeholders, objectives. |
Enrichment • Enterprise competitions and Dragons’ Den activities |
Year 11
Students develop their understanding of business growth and larger organisations while preparing for GCSE examinations. They analyse business decisions, evaluate strategies and consider the impact of national and global influences on business performance and success.
Students strengthen their ability to interpret business information, make justified judgements and evaluate different courses of action. Through the study of real business case studies, they develop the analytical and evaluative skills needed for success in examinations and the wider world of work.
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• Methods of business growth and economies of scale |
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Year 10 Assessment Points: • Topic assessments using GCSE-style questions |
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Key Vocabulary Growth, economies of scale, market share, branding, quality, cash flow, profit, break-even, recruitment, motivation, globalisation, ethics, sustainability. |
Enrichment • Business guest speakers and employer engagement |