- Business Department
- Business Ks3
- Business Ks4
- Business & Economics
Teaching Team:
Miss S. Culpan - Leader of Business | E-Mail
Mr H. Kutty | E-MailHave you ever considered why businesses exist? Or, thought about how many different kinds of business there are?
Your future will bring you into contact with so many different businesses either as a customer or an employee, maybe you intend to own and run your own business. BTEC Business Studies is an introduction to the core concepts and theories about how and why businesses act they way they do.Learning Experience:
BTEC Business Studies can be offered as either a single or a double option:
Single option = 3 x 50 minute lessons per week
Double option = 6 x 50 minute lessons per week
The course is built from a portfolio of units. Compulsory units include:
- Business Purposes
- Business Organisation
- Financial Forecasting for Business
- People in Business
Optional units are selected based on student interest, they include such topics as: Doing Business Online, Starting a Small Business, Business Ethics.
Scheme of Learning:
Available on the VLE
Homework and Additional Learning:
Homework is set as required by the Unit being studied and to support students in meeting their coursework deadlines.
Additional learning opportunities arise from students’ interest in the subject. Watching the Business section of breakfast news, or looking it up online; Following programs such as Dragons’ Den or the Apprentice; Starting their own Business, washing cars or repairing bikes for example, students would receive advice and guidance in starting and developing their business idea.
Assessment:
There are no specific National Curriculum levels for the Enterprise curriculum. Being a cross curricula subject it ties together elements of ICT, Citizenship and Key Skills; therefore, levels are awarded inline with these subject areas.
Course Outline:
In Enterprise, students have the opportunity to practice and develop a range of skills including: Research & Presentation skills, Problem Solving and Risk Taking Ability, Team-working and Interpersonal skills, Communication skills and Time Management & Organisation.
Year 7:
Enterprise in the year is taught in the Year 7 base through project based activities that introduce learners to the key skills.
Year 8 Units:
In Year 8 learners consider “What is Enterprise” and what common skills and qualities successful business people show. They gain their first introduction to money management, and start to consider bigger economic questions like risk & reward, and the competitive business environment.
Year 9 Units:
In Year 9 learners further develop their money management skills, and start to consider future pathways. In preparation for their option choices for Key Stage 4 they investigate a variety of career choices that are of interest to them, and consider routes for further development after leaving Cantell.
Student Groupings:
Mixed groups
Vocational pathwayTime Allocation:
6 lessons per two week cycle, on a rotational basis
In order to be responsive to learners requirements, and offer all students the best opportunities to achieve in the learning style that suits them most, two different Business related courses are offered.
BTEC Business Studies - Level 2 Pass, Merit or Distinction (GCSE A*-C) equivalent
This can be offered as:
a 2 year Diploma course – Double option
a 2 year Certificate course – Single option
a 1 year Certificate course – Double option
What do students study and how do they study?
The BTEC Business Studies is an exam-free alternative to GCSE, taking an engaging, practical approach to learning and assessment that will provide you with an industry-relevant qualification. It has been developed to recognise learners' skills, knowledge and understanding of Business purposes, functions, environments and operations. You will carry out a range of tasks that have been designed to recognise your achievements in a modern, practical way that is relevant to the workplace.
The key aims of the course are to:Develop students' skills, knowledge and use of Business concepts in contexts that are directly relevant to employment situations.
Develop the learner's ability to work autonomously and effectively, and to extend their knowledge and understanding to support their progression into further education or employment.
What coursework is required?BTEC Business Studies comprises a number of 'Units of Study' set with a vocational context. For each unit, you will build a portfolio of evidence designed to meet the unit assessment objectives. The number of units completed decides the award of Certificate or Diploma. Some units are compulsory, some are optional units chosen to best reflect the interests of students at Cantell.
| Level 2 Certificate (equivalent to 1 GCSE) | Unit 1 Unit 2 Unit 3 |
Business Purposes Business Organisations | Financial Forecasting for Business |
Extended Certificate (equivalent to 2 GCSEs) |
Unit 4 Unit 17* |
People in Organisations Starting a Small Business
|
Level2 Diploma (equivalent to 4 GCSEs) |
Unit 11* Unit 9* Unit 19* Unit 21* |
Customer Relations in Business Training and Employment in Business The Marketing Plan Promoting and Branding in Retail |
*Optional Units – These can be changed, selection to reflect the needs and interests of the learners.
What examinations are there?
Many students struggle in exam situations, and they can miss out on opportunities when exam grades don't represent their true understanding or ability.
With BTEC Business Studies, there are no exams, so you are not under pressure to perform in a one-off test. Instead, learning and assessment happens throughout the course giving you a much better indication of your progress, and a greater chance of success.Each unit is graded as Pass, Merit or Distinction and the overall BTEC award is taken from the average achievement across the number of units.
It is important to realise the award of Merit can only be given with the completion of all Pass criteria, and the award of Distinction can only be made with the completion of all Pass and Merit criteria.
What additional study is expected?The emphasis that this course places on coursework means it is imperative that you stay up to date by completing each unit assessment on time. It will therefore be necessary to complete and improve assignments outside of class time, as and when indicated by your teacher.
Grades A*-D
What do students study and how do they study?
This is a one year course designed to introduce students to the key points of business, from start-up through to multi-national corporations. Split into two units, students will cover:
Introduction to Small Business – This unit covers the key issues and skills involved in enterprise. The emphasis is on starting and running small businesses. This section provides a framework for looking at the marketing, financial, human and operational issues of starting and running a small business
Introduction to Economic Understanding – This unit raises a series of issues and problems of economic understanding, to provide a broad national and international perspective. It introduces the student to the ways in which economists think and practise, and provides vital skills to help them understand some of the burning issues of the day.
What coursework is required?Coursework is assessed under controlled conditions. Students will be required to complete an assignment chosen from a list provided by the exam board and based on the Introduction to Small Business unit. They will be given a set time frame in school in which to complete all research and write-up.
Coursework is worth 25% of the final grade.
What examinations are there?
Paper 1 (45min)
– The Introduction to Small Business unit is then further assessed by a written examination paper with multiple-choice and objective test questions.
This is worth 25% of the final grade.Paper 2 (90min)
– A second written paper is used to assess the Introduction to Economic Understanding unit. The questions will be a mixture of multiple-choice, data response, short answer, extended writing and scenario based questions.
This is worth 50% of the final grade.
What additional study is expected?Additional learning opportunities will be set as appropriate. Tasks may include research, worksheets, examination practice questions, essays and source-based activities or presentations.
What can students do next?This subject, whether taken as BTEC or GCSE, provides an introductory starting point for further and higher education in any range of business related courses. It will also prepare students for taking AS/A2 Levels and well as BTEC and NVQ Level3 courses in many vocational subjects.
Students become skilled in making decisions, being creative, solving problems, understanding finance, dealing with data, communicating, and working independently and as part of a team.
A qualification in Business can lead to work in a business-related profession such as accountancy, law, marketing or the leisure and tourism industry.
