Teaching Staff

Curriculum

GCSE

There are 2 external exams and one controlled assessment.

Unit 1: Starting a business

This will be a written exam lasting 1 hour 30 mins and will have structured questions.

It is worth 40% of the overall GCSE qualification.

Unit 2: Developing a business

This will be a written exam lasting 1 hour 30 mins and will have structured questions.

It is worth 40% of the overall GCSE qualification.

Unit 3: Planning a business

This is controlled assessment.
You will complete a research task and a structured report

It is worth 20% of the overall GCSE qualification.

What will I study in Year 11?

Unit 1. Starting a Business

This unit will cover 3 themes:

What will I study in Year 12?

Unit 2. Developing a Business

This unit will cover 3 themes:

A Level

What will I study at AS?

Module 1: Introduction to Business
In this unit you will gain an understanding of enterprise and entrepreneurship, the central purpose of business activity and the different forms of business organisations. You will also study markets, productivity and quality, organisational design and human resource management.

Module 2: Growing the Business
In this unit you will learn about competition, marketing and e-business.
This unit will also cover the role of accounting and financial information and how this aids decision-making and financial control for business. You will study break-even analysis, budgets, cash flow and final accounts.

What will I study at A2?

Module 1: Strategic Decision Making
In this unit you will learn about the potential conflict between the objectives of different stake holder groups and investigate ways to resolve such conflict. You will also study: the importance of business culture, business strategy and planning; business plans; decision tree analysis; and analyse why a business may encounter a crisis and develop a contingency plan.
This unit will also cover the role of accounting and financial information. As art of this unit, you will interpret company accounts, study ratio analysis, investment apprasial.

Module 2: The Competitive Business Environment
In this unit you will study the macroeconomic framework within which businesses operate, the impact of government policies and how businesses are affected by globalisation. This unit will also help you increase your knowledge of business ethics and corporate social responsibility. The unit also covers the area of change - its causes and effects, resistance to change and how to manage it effectively.

AS 1: The Competitive Business

Worth: 50% of AS - 20% of A Level

1 hour 30 minutes external examination paper and will include two structured data response questions

AS 2: Managing Business Resources

Worth: 50% of AS - 20% of A Level

1 hour 30 minutes external examination paper and will include two structured data response questions

A2 1: Making Business Decisions

Worth 30% of A Level

2 hour external examination paper and will include one structured data response questions

A2 2: The Changing Business Environment

Worth 30% of A Level

2 hour  external examination paper and will include one structured data response questions

Extra Curricular

Year 11 pupils participate in a Stock Market Challenge and have reached the area finals in 2017 and 2018.

Trips

Pupils will have the opportunity to visit local businesses such as to Tayto NI Ltd and Rockwell Collins, Kilkeel (formally BE Aerospace).

Careers

Business Studies will be a relevant subject no matter what career you have in mind. Some options include:

Over 50% of our A-level students study business or a business related degree after leaving Newry High School.