GCSE & A-Level Information
Within our department, we cover the following G.C.S.E and A-Level courses:
- Applied G.C.S.E Double Award
- AS & A2 Level Business Studies
- AS & A2 Level Economics
- BTEC National Diploma in Business
- BTEC First Diploma in Business
Applied G.C.S.E Business Studies
In this course, learners develop an appreciation of the role of business in society, and consider what is needed for a business to be successful. This includes a look at why people choose to set up their own business, the benefits and the costs for the rest of society, how firms raise money, how they decide what to make and how they market their products. There are opportunities to look at the economy, or to focus on communications. Students are assessed by two pieces of coursework and two written exams.
This popular and successful G.C.S.E course gives an overview of all the main elements of business, and lays the foundation for further study. The course includes the opportunity to take part in a mini enterprise venture. The key elements of the course are setting up a business, marketing a business, managing people in a business, accounts and business, worth two GCSE's.
The course gets excellent results. In 2009 the A*-C pass rate was 64% with most students recording their highest G.C.S.E grade in this subject. Students often go on to study Business, Economics or law at a higher level but of course for many, the course provides a background knowledge of business that will then inform their study of other areas.
AS & A2 Level Business Studies
This course provides an insight into organisations, the markets they serve and the process of adding value. You will develop a knowledge and understanding of accounting techniques and practices, the legal and social environments in which businesses operate; how businesses market their products and manage their staff. The impact of business is considered from a number of perspectives including the shareholder, customer, employee or simply someone who lives near a business. Assessment is by written exam, two exams at AS and two exams at A2.
AS & A2 Level Economics
This course gives you a thorough grounding and insight into the issues which affect the world in which we live, from the opening of a local superstore to unemployment levels in the U.K. to tackling poverty in developing parts of the world. You will develop knowledge and understanding of economic concepts and theories at the same time developing the skills of critical analysis and thought required by economists.
A and AS level Business Studies
Business Studies must be one of the most varied and diverse subjects available. The Department offers AS and A level Business Studies and follows the AQA Specification. This is a modular course which provides students with a good introduction to all aspects of business. The course comprises four separate modules and there is no course work. The course covers Marketing, Accounts and Finance, People, Operations Management, the influence of the External Environment and Business Objectives and Strategy. At AS level the underpinning theme is based on enterprise and starting a business. At A2 the theme is based at corporate level and boardroom decision making.
Marketing
This module focuses on the marketing process and the broad range of activities within a marketing department - market research, product development, pricing procedures and strategies, promotion and advertising, selling and distribution.
Accounting and Finance
Every business must focus on its financial performance if it is to achieve the objective of profit maximisation. It must also carefully monitor where the money comes from and where it goes. Students will develop an understanding of basic accounts such as a Profit and Loss account and Balance Sheet and will be able to assess the performance of a business based upon financial data.
Operations Management
A business will only be successful if it can produce quality products on time. The Operations Management module focuses on the production process within the business. Students will be encouraged to visit as many businesses as possible throughout their course in order to develop an understanding of how businesses operate. The module includes stock control systems and production methods.
People
A business relies on its managers and its employees. The people module focuses on the processes involved in Human Resource Management starting with recruitment and selection going through to staff training and motivation. This module looks at leadership styles which can be applied to a business situation.
External Influences
This module focuses on the social, legal, economic, political and technological environment within which a business operates. It includes ethical issues such as animal testing and the implications of dealing with pressure groups.
Business Objectives and Strategy
Firms in the new Millennium need clear objectives and must develop a strategy to achieve these. Students will examine the strategies of real businesses and the risk involved in these strategies.
Assessment is broken down as follows:-
AS examination |
Percentage of entire A-level marks |
AS module 1 - Marketing & Finance: |
15% |
AS module 2 - People and Operations Management |
15% |
AS module 3 - External Influences and Objectives and Strategy Seen Case Study |
20% |
A2 examination |
Percentage of entire A-level marks |
A2 module 4 - Business Decision-making Case Study |
15% |
A2 module 5 – Report and Essay paper 1 hour 30 minutes |
15% |
A2 module 6 - Case Study - External Influences and Objectives and Strategy |
20% |
To summarise then, the course is spread out such that 50% of the A-level is covered in year one with the remainder in the second year.
Newspaper and television headlines offer continual reminders of how relevant and of how much interest the business world is to us all.
- What makes some shares worth more than others?
- Why did Mars choose to upset so many vegetarians?
- Why is Marks and Spencer suddenly a success again?
- Why is the £ worth $2?
Longer term issues continue to hit the headlines too... business and the environment, Japanese companies investing in the UK and the impact of new technologies on business and working lives. All these issues are relevant to our subject area.
Although some students will have studied Business Studies at G.C.S.E, it is not essential. However, a grade C in Maths and English is preferred. The majority of A level Business Studies students go on to University to study the subject in more depth, or to specialise in a a part of it such as accounts. Our students also go on to the rich variety of management trainee courses available at l8+, to the banks, other financial institutions, accountancy, retailing and hotel industry.
Students are also encouraged to take part in a range of business related competitions; the main one of these is young enterprise (see below). We also have two residential trips:
- Paris - to attend a conference of post sixteen students drawn from across the EU.
- London - for a tour of parliament, Bloomberg’s offices, the Bank of England and Downing Street.
AS and A level Economics
- Why does Christiano Ronaldo deserve £120,000 a week?
- Why do men continue to earn on average 20% more than women, even when they are doing more or less the same job?
- Why should TESCO be allowed to sell one third of all the food sold in the UK?
- Why shouldn’t drivers be charged for using the road?
Why is the critical word in Economics? No particular G.C.S.E’s are required, but an enquiring mind and an argumentative approach towards notions of conventional wisdom are essential. The ability to present a case, supported by solid theories, facts and figures, is a key skill. In Economics, students develop an understanding of economic concepts and theories through a critical consideration of current economic issues, problems and institutions that affect everyday life. They learn to apply economic concepts and theories in a range of contexts and to appreciate their value and limitations in explaining real-world phenomena.
Virtually all Economics students go on to study the subject further at University, or one very closely related such as accountancy. There is only a very small overlap between Business Studies and Economics and students can choose to do both.
The course breaks down into microeconomics (e.g. the theory of supply and demand, market forces and market prices, market failure) and macroeconomics (e.g. looking at the major national and international issues related to growth, inflation, unemployment and international trade). A breakdown of the assessment is given below.
AS examination |
Percentage of entire A-level marks |
AS module 1 – Microeconomics - fifteen objective test questions and a data response question |
17.5% |
AS module 2 - Macroeconomics - fifteen objective test questions and a data response question |
17.5% |
AS module 3 – A case study related to Economics of sport and leisure, the environment or the housing market |
15% |
A2 examination |
Percentage of entire A-level marks |
A2 module 4 – Coursework – a study of a local economic issue in lass than 4000 words eg should the Metro system be extended to Bolton, should Bolton Wanderers cut ticket prices, should the shops in Horwich be subsidised to keep them open |
20% |
A2 module 5 – MicroEconomics Case study and Essay paper 1 hour 30 minutes |
15% |
A2 module 6 - MacroEconomics Case study and Essay paper 1 hour 30 minutes |
15% |
