Business Studies and Finance

Extra-Curricular Activities

 

Key Stage 4

Course Title: AQA GCSE Business 8132, AQA-8132-SP-2017.PDF

What are the knowledge and skills that students will gain over Key Stage 4?

The following content is covered in the GCSE Business course:

Students will learn about the following synoptic elements of business:

  • The nature and purpose of businesses and entrepreneurs
  • Influences on business including legislation, the economy, technology and competition

Students will gain knowledge and understanding of the following areas of business:

  • Human Resources
  • Operations
  • Finance
  • Marketing

Skills covered over the GCSE qualification:

  • Use business terminology to identify and explain business activity
  • Apply business concepts to familiar and unfamiliar contexts
  • Develop problem solving and decision making skills relevant to business
  • Investigate, analyse and evaluate business opportunities and issues
  • Make justified decisions using both qualitative and quantitative data including its selection, interpretation, analysis and evaluation, and the application of appropriate quantitative skills.

Why is it delivered in this way?

In years 9 and 10 students will cover the content outlined in the specification this has been done for the following reasons:

  • To ensure a breadth of knowledge is covered early during their GCSE
  • To maintain momentum and engagement in the subject through the range of areas covered.
  • To allow mastery of the subject content in years 10 and 11

In year 11 students will consolidate their knowledge and understanding of subject content and apply holistically to a range of scenarios and situations, thus enhancing examination technique.

Sixth Form

Course title: AQA GCE A Level Business 7132, AQA-7131-7132-SP-2015.PDF

What are the knowledge and skills that students will gain over Key Stage 5?

The following content is covered in the GCE Business course:

  • The importance of the context of business in relation to decision making
  • The interrelated nature of business activities and how they affect competitiveness
  • The competitive environment and the markets in which businesses operate
  • The influences on functional decisions and plans including ethical and environmental issues
  • The factors that might determine whether a decision is successful eg the quality of data and the degree of uncertainty
  • How technology is changing the way decisions are made and how businesses operate and compete the impact on stakeholders of functional decisions and their response to such decisions
  • Use of non-quantitative and quantitative data in decision making (including the interpretation of index numbers and calculations such as ratios and percentages)
  • The impact of technology on strategic decision making
  • The influences of Corporate Social Responsibility, ethical and environmental issues on strategic decisions
  • The difficulties in forecasting future trends
  • The importance of assessing feasibility and risk when making strategic decisions
  • The impact on stakeholders of strategic decisions and their response to such decisions

Skills covered over the GCE qualification:

Students will develop the knowledge and skills needed to analyse data, think critically about issues and make informed and balanced decisions.

Why is it delivered in this way?

During year 1 of GCE Business students cover the nature and purpose of businesses and entrepreneurs, leadership and management styles and the four functional areas of business; HR, Finance, Marketing and Operations. This gives students a solid foundation in the areas of business and management.

During year 2 of GCE Business students look at the positioning of businesses, strategic decision making of businesses, strategies nationally and internationally, culture and change management. Year 2 requires students to use their knowledge and understanding obtained during Year 1 of the course.

 

Course title: LIBF Level 3 Certificate in Financial Studies (CeFS), cefs-qualification-specification.pdf

What are the knowledge and skills that students will gain over Key Stage 5?

Year 1 - Certificate in Financial Studies

Content areas:

  • Importance of financial capability in the immediate, short, medium and long term.
  • Financial services and products, including sources of help and advice.
  • Borrowing, budgeting, financial planning and cash flow forecasting.
  • The impact of external influences at different stages in the personal life cycle.
  • Risk and reward in managing personal finance.

Skills developed:
During the first year of study students will be encouraged to analyse financial information, financial services products and services and begin to make judgements about suitability for people in different circumstances; develop an understanding of financial concepts and terminology to enhance financial literacy; analyse, synthesise, evaluate and reflect; Page 2 of 3 demonstrate numeracy skills, including the ability to manipulate financial and other numerical data to reflect the conceptual activity of financial maths; select appropriate data and information to make arguments; structure and communicate ideas logically and coherently; and increase their ability to work and learn independently.

Year 2 - Diploma in Financial Studies

Content areas:
Importance of financial capability in the immediate, short, medium and long term.
The impact of external influences at different stages in the personal life cycle.
Risk and reward in managing personal finance.
Personal and external factors that lead to change.
Maintaining financial sustainability and avoiding long-term debt.
The financial services system and financial sustainability (individual and general).
Marketing techniques.

Skills developed:
During the second year of study students are encouraged to analyse financial data and information, financial services products and services and make judgements about suitability for people in different circumstances; develop an understanding of the concept of financial sustainability and ethics to enhance financial literacy; analyse, synthesise, evaluate and reflect; demonstrate numeracy skills including the ability to manipulate financial and other numerical data to reflect the conceptual activity of financial maths; use appropriate data and information to make arguments; structure and communicate ideas logically and coherently; and learn independently in preparation for further / higher academic study.

Why is it delivered in this way?

Financial Studies is a modular course delivered and assessed over the two years, meaning students are working towards their qualification throughout the two years.

During the first year of study students will develop an understanding of financial capability in the short, medium and long term which they will be able to apply to themselves and wider family situation. During the year students will undertake four external examinations and achieve their certificate of Financial Studies (equivalent to half an A-Level) and counting towards their UCAS points.

During the second year of study students will build on their knowledge and understanding from the certificate in learning about the stability of both individual finance and the financial system as a whole. Students will sit four external examinations during the year and on completion, will achieve a Diploma in Financial Studies which is equivalent to a full A-Level.

Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy