'Business Studies is an adventure into how local / national / global economy works and applying this to identifying business opportunities.'

Intent

The study of Business Studies at KS4 aims to:

• Encourage students to understand the topic of enterprise and entrepreneurship to develop an understanding of spotting a business opportunity and putting a business idea into practice.
• Provide students with the means to be able to think analytically, reach logical conclusions based on data and make judgements on future changes to markets and the economy.
• Encourage students to have sustainability and business ethics at the forefront of their entrepreneurial decisions.
• Provide transferable skills allowing students a smooth transition from an educational environment to a work environment, by providing an insight to a multitude of business sectors and departments.

Meta-concepts

The following meta-concepts underpin the curriculum:

• Analysing– Students analyse data and interpret it to make business decisions. In topics 1.3 (Putting a business idea into practice) and 2.4 (Making financial decisions) students analyse data. Students use this data to solve business issues and make informed, ethical decisions in a business context.
• Linking– Students use theoretical business concepts and apply them to real-world examples. In topic 1.4 (making the business effective) students examine franchising as an option for entrepreneurs to start a business. Students understand the process of becoming a franchisee and the franchisee’s relationship, both legal and personal, with the franchisor. 
• Communication- Students learn to effectively communicate business ideas within the classroom environment. The students are provided a diverse set of mediums to express business concepts. Students demonstrate concepts in a practical manner and use visual stimuli to articulate foundational business concepts. Students work hands-on with business concepts to witness and present these ideas in action. By covering these three main learning and communication types, the needs of all learners have been met in a medium that empowers them to become learners for life. 
• Application– Students apply business concepts they have learned throughout the majority of Theme 2. In topics, 2.2 (making marketing decisions), 2.3 (Making operational decisions), 2.4 (Making financial decisions), and 2.5 (Making human resource decisions). Students apply the concepts studied in Theme 1 to business decisions, creating a practical element to their course work. 
• Context– Students explore the context throughout the entire Business Studies course. The final examinations for Edexcel Business Studies utilise case studies in all their exams. Students are partially marked based on their use of case studies within their responses, demonstrated that they use context from the case study to apply the theoretical business knowledge. In addition, students are provided opportunities in each lesson to apply their knowledge to a personalised case study helping them find context in their business knowledge. 
• Critical Thinking– Critical thinking is applied in the 9- and 12-mark questions of the GCSE examinations of Business Studies. These questions ask students to apply business studies concepts to contextual decision-making using case studies. Throughout the course students are expected to apply their business knowledge to real-world concepts and decision-making. 

Business Studies curriculum sequence 

Implementation

Students take Business Studies as an option subject at Key Stage 4. In year 10 and 11 students receive six lessons per fortnight. 

The GCSE programme of study is organised to develop and investigate small businesses.  The year 10 subject content is taught in the following order:

• Topic 1.1 Enterprise and entrepreneurship 
• Topic 1.2 Spotting a business opportunity 
• Topic 1.3 Putting a business idea into practice 
• Topic 1.4 Making the business effective 
• Topic 1.5 Understanding external influences on business

The year 11 content focuses on building a business and is taught in the following order:

• Topic 2.1 Growing the business 
• Topic 2.2 Making marketing decisions 
• Topic 2.3 Making operational decisions 
• Topic 2.4 Making financial decisions 
• Topic 2.5 Making human resource decisions

Students are assessed across topics, initially and then at the end of units.  There are both formative and summative assessments.  The assessments are of a similar format to and use similar questions to the final exam.  The same assessment objectives are used so that students understand the types of questions they can expect on their final exam.  This allows opportunities to practise and revisit the same skills, but in different contexts.  Early assessments will be structured and use walking and talking exams, with less structure given into year 11.

Students will apply their knowledge and understanding to business decision making in both years including:

• The interdependent nature of business activity, influences on business, business operations, finance, marketing and human resources, and how these interdependencies underpin business decision making.
• How different business contexts affect business decisions.
• The use and limitation of quantitative and qualitative data in making business decisions.

GCSE specification- Business Studies

Impact

The impact of our curriculum will be assessed each year using the different types of data available to us. This data will include exams results analysis, examiners reports, emerging research, QA, student voice and staff voice. We also seek to collaborate with colleagues from different centres and keep up to date with the latest studies and contemporary events linked to our subjects. The acquisition of knowledge should be modelled for students by staff.