Business

Head of Department

Mrs D McMahon, BBs, PGCE

Statement of Intent

The Business department at Devonport High School for Girls aims to develop young business students and knowledgeable entrepreneurs. We aim to deliver an engaging and inspiring 3 year course which will embed students with key skills and knowledge, making them ready for the world of work or to continue with their business pathway at KS5 studying A-level Business. The course at GCSE level aims for students to understand key business concepts, business terminology, business objectives, the integrated nature of business activity and the impact of business on individuals and wider society. The delivery of the specification gives students the opportunity to explore real life business issues and how businesses work, enabling them to utilise this knowledge in their next steps.

The specification for Business is broad but covers these main functional areas: starting up and running small businesses, building a business, influences on business, business operations, human resources, marketing and finance. With a combination of teacher led delivery, independent research, teamwork, competition and presentation activities, we aim to complement the employability skills that they are developing in other subject areas as well as prepare students for the everyday world of working within or running an organisation.

The Business department aims to provide students with:

the skills and confidence to explore how different business situations affect decision-making, taking into account a range of curriculum concepts. As a knowledge-based curriculum, the department believes that knowledge underpins and enables the application of skills; both are entwined;
the ability to develop their understanding of concepts, objectives and terminology, and the impact of contemporary issues on business operations;
learning experiences that are relevant, linked to varying career opportunities and promoting life-skills;
equipping students with the appropriate knowledge and skills needed to develop their employability whilst identifying business problems and opportunities. We do this by quality first teaching, which ensures students understand underlying business theory that is then applied to a variety of familiar and unfamiliar case studies;
acquired knowledge that then allows students to develop their analytical and critical thinking skills.

Curriculum Programmes of Study

Year	Cycle	Content
Year 9	Cycle 1	Theme 1 Investigating Small Business Project 1: Subscription Box Project 2: Apple 4 P’s Challenge Topic 1.1 Enterprise and entrepreneurship Topic 1.2 Spotting a business opportunity
	Cycle 2	Topic 1.3 Putting a business idea into practice Theme 1 skills and exam technique
	Cycle 3	Topic 1.4 Making the business effective Project 3: Sports Day Business Plan and Business stalls
Year 10	Cycle 1	Theme 1: Investigating small business (Paper 1) Investigating small business: Concentrates on the key business concepts, issues and skills involved in starting and running a small business. It provides a framework to explore core concepts through the lens of an entrepreneur setting up a business. You will develop an understanding of the interactions between business operations, finance, marketing and human resources, as well as the relationship between the business and the environment in which it operates. 1.1 Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Dynamic nature of a business Risk & reward The role of business enterprise 1.2 Spotting a business opportunity Customer needs Market research Market segmentation The competitive environment 1.3a Putting a business idea into practice Financial & non-financial aims Revenues, costs, profit Cycle 1 Assessments Topics 1.1,1.2,1.3a
	Cycle 2	1.3b Putting a business idea into practice Cash flow Sources of finance 1.4. Making the business effective Business start-ups Marketing mix Business plans Mini enterprise project – Write a business plan for sports day stalls and sell products at the event Location Cycle 2 Assessments Topics 1.3b,1.4
	Cycle 3	1.5 Understanding external influences Stakeholders Technology Legislation The economy & business External influences Cycle 3 Assessments Topic 1.5 & End of Year 10 assessment Paper 1
Year 11	Cycle 1	Theme 2 Growing the Business (Paper 2) Building a business: Examines how a business develops beyond the start-up phase. It focuses on the key business concepts, issues and decisions used to grow a business, with emphasis on aspects of marketing, operations, finance and human resources. We also consider the impact of the wider world on the decisions a business makes as it grows. In this theme, students will be introduced to national and global business contexts and will develop an understanding of how these contexts impact business behaviour and decisions. 2.1 Growing the business Business growth Changing aims/objectives Globalisation Ethics 2.2 Making marketing decisions 4P’s Using the marketing mix to make business decisions 2.3 Making operational decisions Business operations Working with suppliers Managing quality The sales process Cycle 1 Assessments Topics 2.1,2.2,2.3
	Cycle 2	2.4 Making financial calculations Business calculations Understanding business performance 2.5 Making human resource decisions Organisational structures Recruitment Training Motivation Cycle 2 Assessments Topics 2.4,2.5
	Cycle 3	Preparation for GCSE examinations A focus on exam practice consisting of calculations, multiple choice, short-answer and extended-writing questions

Middle Years Exam and Specification Information

Paper 1 - Theme 1: Investigating small business

Written exam: 105 minutes, 90 marks, 50% of the total GCSE

Multiple choice, calculation, short-answer and, extended-writing questions.

There are three sections in the paper. Each section is ramped, starting with multiple choice questions, moving to short answer questions and ending with extended writing. Sections B and C are based on real life, relevant business contexts and examples.

Overview of Content

Topic 1.1 Enterprise and entrepreneurship

Topic 1.2 Spotting a business opportunity

Topic 1.3 Putting a business idea into practice

Topic 1.4 Making the business effective

Topic 1.5 Understanding external influences on business

Paper 2 - Theme 2: Building a business

Written exam: 105 minutes, 90 marks, 50% of the total GCSE

Multiple choice, calculation, short-answer and, extended-writing questions.

Overview of Content

Topic 2.1 Growing the business

Topic 2.2 Making marketing decisions

Topic 2.3 Making operational decisions

Topic 2.4 Making financial decisions

Topic 2.5 Making human resource decisions

Full details of the specification and assessment criteria can be found on the E dexcel website Business GCSE (Year 9 , 10 and 11)

Extra-curricular activities

Enterprise Days
The Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Next Gen tech for good idea challenge
Be the Future challenge

GCSE Business Learning Journey
pdf

Devonport High School For Girls