Business Studies a small but successful department at Arrow Vale which boasts a variety of courses at both KS4 and KS5. Students are given a choice of vocational or non-vocational subjects to choose from in order to suit their needs.
Business Studies gives students the chance to study a subject that is extremely contemporary and prepares them with many life skills. A popular subject, allowing students to get to grips with topics and themes that are all around them. The department offers trips and enrichment opportunities to develop and deepen student understanding of key business concepts.
Director of Learning & Standards
Mrs J Molloy
BTEC Level 2 Tech Award in Enterprise
COURSE CONTENT
The BTEC Tech Award in Enterprise can help you take your first steps towards a career in the business word. This level 2 qualification gives students the opportunity to explore what it means to set up and run a business enterprise, delve deeper into how businesses work and appreciate the importance of business planning and understanding the market.
The course is split into 3 components:
Component 1: Explore Enterprises– find out what business is all about, what it is like to work in business and what skills are needed.
Component 2: Develop and pitch your own business idea – plan your own business project, pitch your ideas and evaluate the success.
Component 3: Promotion and Finance – learn how businesses promote themselves and the important of finance.
These components build on each other to motivate you by helping you put what you have learned into practice and grow in confidence.
ASSESSMENT
This qualification is assessed through skills-based assessments to test knowledge and understanding.
There is a combination of internal and external assessment:
Components 1 and 2 are coursework-based assessed, internally set and marked.
Component 3 is assessed by examination, set and marked by the examination board.
PROGRESSION
Learners who achieve this qualification could progress to Level 3 qualifications such as A Levels or BTECs in business and finance. This qualification may lead to careers in marketing, finance, retail and administration.
CURRICULUM PLANS FOR THE FUTURE
We aim to offer GCSE Business in the next 12 months as an option to study at key stage 4. This exciting qualification will build on the strengths of the department and give students a choice of qualifications to study.
BTEC Level 3 Extended Certificate in Business
COURSE CONTENT
The BTEC Extended Certificate is a vocational course for learners who are interested in finding out about all aspects of business, current affairs and the world of work. It is designed to be taken as part of a programme of study that includes other appropriate BTECs or A Levels. It is equivalent to one A Level and the BTEC course is a nationally recognised, rigorous qualification.
You will study 4 units of work which cover a wide range of topics including the business environment, finance and marketing.
Learners study the purposes of different businesses, their structure, the effect of the external environment, and how they need to be dynamic and innovative to survive. You will gain an understanding of how a marketing campaign is developed and you will develop your own campaign for a given product/service. You will learn about aspects of both personal and business finance, how to manage your money and how business use finance as a planning tool and to measure success. You will also explore how the recruitment process is carried out in a business.
There are three mandatory units and one option choice unit:
ASSESSMENT
PROGRESSION
This qualification can lead to a wide range of higher education or career opportunities. There are a multitude of higher education courses available in Business, Accountancy or Marketing and the course could also be a great steppingstone to apprenticeships or even for those thinking of setting up their own business.
Business Studies provides students with the opportunity to visit many local businesses to see how they operate and the logistics behind the company, as well as the opportunity to hear from visiting speakers. Students are thus able to transfer their knowledge learnt in the classroom into context within the business industry. Students also take part in national competitions and events.
In Business Studies students are encouraged to develop their Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Education across all lessons. Students are required to use a variety of skills in order to investigate different businesses and be able to make appropriate judgement.
Students are encouraged to spend time outside of the classroom in the form of school trips, which encourages the students to explore local and national businesses in order to help enhance their knowledge.
Students are encouraged to develop their own opinions and how to justify them to their peers. Helping them to develop a crucial skill for their coursework.
Spiritual Development in Business
Spiritual education in Business at Arrow Vale encourages students to explore topics such as discrimination act which enable students to express their own opinion. Students are encouraged to explore different businesses and challenge the actions that businesses take.
Year 12 Investigating Business: ‘Employment Laws such as Sexism and Discrimination Act. Students consider the effects that the employment laws will have upon a business operating.
Year 11: ‘What is ethics?’ Students explore what is ethics within business and investigate examples of child labour and other issues.
Year 11: Animal rights, the environment and pressure groups. Students explore examples such as BP and Primark and the role of which pressure groups play within this.
Year 10: ‘Thinking Creatively’: Students are encouraged to use different thinking methods in order to develop new ideas.
Moral Development in Business
Moral development in Business at Arrow Vale requires students to draw conclusions using observations, evidence and case studies to support this. Students explore the issues surrounding misuse of information in order to make a justified judgment.
Year 12: Misuse of information: Data Protection Act: Students explore the law and how this impacts businesses.
Year 11: Impact of actions on environment and ethical issues such as child labour: Students are asked to explore issues through the use of role play.
Year 12: Environment and Charges. Students explore the environmental charges that are associated with in business and fly tipping.
Year 11: Trading Standards. Students explore different consumer protection laws and the impact upon businesses.
Social Development in Business
Social education in Business at Arrow Vale gives students the opportunities to develop their team working skills through collaboration work and research. The students also explore the concept of teams and roles that individuals must play and how this can impact a business. Throughout the curriculum students are given the opportunity to exercise their leadership skills. Students often work collaboratively to understand new concepts and share information researched.
Year 12: Unemployment Levels and GDP. As part of their coursework students explore unemployment and GDP across both local and national levels.
Year 12: Visits: Students go to visit local businesses to see how they operate.
Year 13: Research into local trends. Students carry out research into local area in terms of buying trends and habits.
Cultural Development in Business
Cultural education in Business at Arrow Vale involves trading internationally and the barriers to this. Students are also actively encouraged to go on visits to explore local businesses and also larger multinational businesses such as Cadbury. Students also investigate the changes within society on both and local and national level.
All years: Visits. All Business students are given the opportunity to visit local and national businesses to see how they run and operate.
Year 11: Impact of the EU: Students explore the EU, trading barriers and how this can impact a business.
Year 12: Exchange Rates: Students explore importing and exporting and how this affects a business achieving their aims and objectives.
Year 10: Exchange Rates: Students investigate the different types of currency and the effect a strong and weak pound can have on a business’s trading.
