Business Studies

A Level

Why study Business?

Business Studies is happening all day, every day. It impacts the way that we live our lives. Any future job that you have will mean that you play a part in business activity. In the UK, there are 5.7 million private sector businesses, an increase of more than 2.2 million since the Year 2000. Business Studies investigates the different elements that the managers of these businesses are having to tackle/consider/overcome to try to become successful. Our lessons will refer to any of these businesses (from the 99.9% that are small or medium enterprises to the hugely successful multinational brands), giving understanding of how they operate, and the impact this has.

What will I study?

The A Level Business Studies course focuses on how businesses work internally and how they are influenced by external factors. You will look at the variety of strategies that can be implemented that would help a business to successfully meet their objectives.

During the delivery of the course we will be using a variety of different business contexts that include large/small, UK based/international, service based/manufacturing. Studies will include:

  • the importance of the context of business in relation to decision making
  • the interrelated nature of business activities and how they affect competitiveness
  • key business functions: marketing, finance, human resources and production
  • the competitive environment and the markets in which businesses operate
  • the influences on functional decisions and plans including ethical and environmental issues
  • the factors that might determine whether a decision is successful e.g. the quality of data and the degree of uncertainty
  • how technology is changing the way decisions are made and how businesses operate and compete
  • the impact on stakeholders of functional decisions and their response to such decisions
  • use of non-quantitative and quantitative data in decision making (including the interpretation of index numbers and calculations such as ratios and percentages).

How will I be assessed?

There are three 2-hour exams. These include some multiple choice questions, some data response questions based on snippets of text and graphs, and some open-ended essay questions.

Future Opportunities & Careers

Business Studies is a subject that offers enormous scope for future opportunities, relevant to students with any future ambitions. There are a wide range of university based Business Studies courses that develop your understanding of the whole subject, or just specific elements (marketing, finance, human resources) further. The transferable skills developed would be widely used studying other degree options. Some students will look at Business Studies apprenticeship opportunities, allowing them to develop their knowledge in specific work environments.

Entry Requirements

Grade 4 or better in English Language GCSE.

Course Expenses

There are no compulsory costs, but students may choose to purchase textbooks which could cost up to £50

 

Head of Department: Mr Tom Crassweller

Email: tom.crassweller@gryphon.dorset.sch.uk

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