Business Home A Level's Curriculum Intent Statement

Edexcel

So, what actually is GCSE Business?

The GCSE Business course teaches students about the dynamic environment in which businesses operate and to appreciate the many and varied factors which impact upon business activity and business behaviour in the 21st century. This is the linear 9-1 GCSE qualification. A linear qualification means that students must sit all their exams at the end of the course in June.

Students will study the following topics:

• Business Activity, Marketing, People, Operations, Finance, Influences on business and the interdependent nature of business

The written examination consists of two papers. Paper 1 based on starting a business. This paper is worth 50% of the final marks. Paper 2 based on growing a business. This paper uses synoptic assessment and is worth 50% of the final marks. There are no tiers of entry in GCSE Business.

What next after the course?

This GCSE course opens exciting opportunities to study business-related subjects at A Level. Business can be the gateway into a number of great career choices: as well as being a fascinating subject in its own right, it is a useful subsidiary subject alongside almost any degree course at university. Some common courses to combine with Business are, Economics, Finance, English, ICT and Engineering.

Business is a favoured Bachelor Degree for universities recruiting to MBA (Master of Business Administration Degree) courses which lay the foundations of a career in senior management within all sorts of exciting industries.

Future employment opportunities?

We live in a corporate world and the markets operate around us constantly. Because of this, Business is a universal subject.  There are few, if any, careers for which an understanding of business would not be of some benefit. Business is also a key to attaining highly paid and challenging roles in all levels of management.

Why should I study the Certificate in Financial Education (CeFE)?

CeFE introduces the student to the impact of finance on the economy and encourages them to consider how this can affect business and the individual. Through this it develops knowledge and a valuable range of applied and transferable skills and provides a foundation for further study in business and finance-related disciplines, as well as a wide range of other fields that are encapsulated in programmes of study related to social enterprise and vocational professional development (eg self-employed hairdressers, taxi drivers, garden landscapers). The content covered, and skills developed, within the qualification ensure that it is a valuable part of a broad programme of study at Key Stage 4, particularly complementing GCSEs in Mathematics, Citizenship, and Business.  Beyond Key Stage 4, it can also complement A Level programmes or vocational programmes at Level 2 or 3 as an additional course of study that broadens and deepens understanding of the financial context of other content areas.

Key content areas

• Public finance and the economy, including how these relate to: social, political and cultural factors; political institutions and processes; impacts on individuals, businesses and society.
• Financial management, including: financial planning; budgeting and financial management tools for managing money; spending and borrowing.
• Employability, enterprise and business, including how these relate to: business financial management; benefits to, and consequences for, businesses, individuals and society.

There are 3 exams taken in Year 10 and 11.

Preparation for further study

The financially related content and skills of this qualification provide an initial foundation for continued study within accountancy, finance and business-related qualifications at A Level. The transferable skills of research, communication and independent study developed through this course are also valuable for further study in many disciplines.

Preparation for employment

This qualification develops initial knowledge, skills and understanding of financial management and enterprise, which are valued in most organisations, particularly the financial services sector, and are especially valuable in terms of self-employment.

Why should I study GCSE Economics?

Economics is about people and their economic choices. This course enables learners to appreciate we are all part of the economy and that economics relates to every aspect of our lives – from the decisions of individuals or families to the structures created by governments and producers. It will develop learners’ understanding of how economic issues affect choices about resources and markets and vice versa.

Economics equips learners with the skills and confidence to explore how consumers, producers and governments interact in markets nationally and internationally. It provides a well rounded introduction to this subject and an excellent foundation for advanced study in Economics. By learning how to explain and evaluate economic problems and possible solutions, learners will acquire a way of thinking as economists and develop a logical approach to thinking and reasoning. By learning how to use economic data from a range of sources, such as tables, charts and graphs, learners will acquire the skills to make informed judgements and to communicate in a clear and concise way.

The subject content looks at economic activity through the lens of consumers, producers, government and the workings of the global economy. As students go through the course they’re presented with opportunities to focus on real-world issues. Students should consider and reflect upon moral, ethical and sustainable issues that arise as a result of the impact of economic activity. Students should use their economic knowledge and skills to investigate national and global economic situations and issues from the last 15 years. Students should also be aware of the policies that governments have used to attempt to manage these situations and issues.

What next after the course?

This GCSE course opens exciting opportunities to study economics-related subjects at A Level.  Economics can be the gateway into a number of great career choices: as well as being a fascinating subject in its own right, it is a useful subsidiary subject alongside almost any degree course at university. Some common courses to combine with Economics are Business, Finance, Maths, Psychology and Physics.