Applied Business Studies

The GCSE in Applied Business Studies is a vocational qualification, designed to provide a broad business education as a foundation both for training leading to employment, and for further and higher education. The course followed is AQA (Assessment and Qualifications Alliance) GCSE 4136 and leads to a Double Award i.e. two GCSE Grades.

The Applied Business Studies GCE couse is designed to provide a broad education as a basis for further training and education, and for moving into employment. It is designed for students who have an interest in exploring the world of business in a highly practical way. This is achieved by ensuring that students develop the general skills, knowledge and understanding that underpin a range of occupations or professions.

Teachers

• Ms A Winkeler
• Miss S Mannaru
• Mr B Murphy
• Mr M Rivers-Davis

KS4: Years 9-11 (GCSE)

The Examination board (AQA) states that the objectives of the GCSE Applied Business Studies course are to:

• Introduce students to work-related learning
• Give candidates the technical knowledge, skills and understanding associated with the business sector
• Empower students to take charge of their own learning.

The course is based on controlled assessments (original, independent courseworks) and examinations where students are given the opportunity to investigate various local and national businesses. There are two compulsory units :

• Setting up a Business - written paper (1 hr), 60 marks (20% of the course)
• Business Finance - written paper (1 hr), 60 marks (20% of the course).

Students also choose two of the following three elective units:

• People in Business - controlled assessment, 70 marks (30% of the course)
• Marketing and Customer Needs - controlled assessment, 70 marks (30% of the course)
• Enterprise - controlled assessment, 70 marks (30% of the course).

  The course incorporates a range of current issues, including citizenship, IT in business, environmental matters and international trade.

  The course occupies two GCSE pools, resulting in two GCSEs being awarded. In practice, it is unlikely that anyone taking these options will be able to study a Modern Foreign Language. Students who find traditional 'examination-based' academic subjects very challenging may find this course more rewarding.

   

  Post 16: Years 12-13 (A/S, A2)

  The Applied Business GCE is designed to provide a broad education as a basis for further training and education, and for moving into employment. It is aimed atstudents who have an interest in exploring the world of business in a highly practical way. This is achieved by ensuring that students develop the general skills, knowledge and understanding that underpin a range of occupations or professions.

  

  The Applied Business Studies GCE course (AQA Examination Board, 8611/8613/8616/8619) leads to AS/A Level Double or Single Awards. Independent study time is set at 4 hours per week minimum (for the Double Award). Students are required to read the Business Section of The Times and The Financial Times on a daily basis.

  The aims of the course are to:

  • Stimulate and sustain students interest in and enjoyment of Business Studies
  • Develop practical skills in communication, ICT and numeracy, in addition to event planning, running business activities and team-based decision making
  • Develop students" ability to acquire knowledge by means of practical work
  • Foster imaginative and critical thinking as well as the acquisition of business knowledge
  • To provide an alternative route to Higher Education for students who perform better in assignment-based, rather than examination based tasks.

  The course qualifies for UCAS points and occupies two pools in the A Level timetable. Students who complete the AS level (the first half of the course) successfully will be able to continue their studies to A2 level.

  In Year 12, students will cover a range of topics, focusing on investigation:

  • Investigating Business
  • People in Business
  • Financial Planning and Monitoring
  • Meeting Customer Needs
  • Developing a Product
  • Career Planning.

  In Year 13, students will focus on decision making and the impact of making decisions. A selection of six from the following units will also be covered:

  • Business Planning
  • Managing People
  • Promotional Activities
  • Managing Change
  • Managing Information
  • Managing Resources
  • Marketing Strategy
  • The Marketing Environment.

  Students who choose to achieve the GCE Single Award will study three topics from the A/S choices, and a further three from the A2 level choices.

  Units on Financial Planning and Meeting Customer Needs are assessed by external examinations, along with Managing People and The Marketing Environment. These are compulsory units. All other units of study will be examined by portfolio-based assessment.

  Due to the rigorous and demanding nature of the coursework, and the feedback/progress monitoring required, students will be required to continue to attend classes in this subject during times otherwise allocated to examination preparation.

  Students are not able to take the AS/A2 Business course with this subject due to duplication of material.