Business Studies

Curriculum vision

Intent

The business department aims to deliver a well-supported curriculum that not only enhances their knowledge and understanding around the subject but is developing interpersonal skills, which will allow students to be prepared for KS5 as well as their careers. To begin with year 9 and the initial phase of year 10 will focus on theme 1 (Investigating small businesses). This will provide students with the insight of how businesses are developed on a small scale and build the ability to analyse different business concepts. Followed on, in year 10 and year 11, the focus would change as theme 2 is introduced (Building a business). This unit looks at business expansion plans – giving students the opportunity to work on advanced evaluation skills, where business decisions for larger businesses are evaluated and analysed. In addition, from Spring term onwards students are to commence, in class revision, which allows students to bridge knowledge gaps and practice exam technique; in preparation for their summer exams.

	Autumn Term	Spring Term	Summer Term
Year 9 Business	Theme-1 Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Spotting a business opportunity *Key concepts that would be covered:* Why new business ideas come about? What is the impact of risks and rewards on the business activity? What is the role and purpose of business enterprise and business activity? What customer needs are (price, quality, choice, convenience) What is the purpose and different types of market research? How businesses use market segmentation to target customers?	Theme-1 1.3 Putting a business idea into practice 1.4 Making the business effective *Key concepts that would be covered:* What are business aims and objectives? How do businesses manage costs, revenue and profits? What is the importance of cash to a business (cash flow)? What are the different sources of finance for an established as well as a start-up business? What are the implications of business liabilities (limited and unlimited)? What are the different types of business ownership? What factors influence business location? What is marketing mix and significance of each element (4P’s)?	Theme-1 1.4. Continuing with making the business effective 1.5 Understanding external influences on business *Key concepts that would be covered:* How do elements of marketing mix work together? What is the importance of a business plan? Who business stakeholders are and their different objectives? How stakeholders are affected by business activity How stakeholder impact business activity? What are the possible conflicts between stakeholder groups? How technology influences business activity in terms of sales, costs, marketing mix?
Year 10 Business	Theme-1 1.4. Making the business effective 1.5 Understanding external influences on business *Key concepts that would be covered:* Understanding and analysing: break-even, costs, cash flow and sources of finance. What is a franchise Why is business location vital? What is a marketing mix? The impact of location on a business. What is the purpose of a business plan? How does technology affect a business? What is the economy? What are external influences? What are the different types of external influences? How do external influences have an impact on a business?	Theme 2: 2.1. Growing the business 2.2. Making Marketing decisions *Key concepts that would be covered:* What are the different types of finance a business could use to grow? What is globalisation? Why is globalisation beneficial to businesses? Why are 4ps important in a business? How does a marketing mix affect business decisions?	Theme 2: 2.3. Making Operational decisions. 2.4. Making financial decisions. *Key concepts that would be covered:* What are organisational structures? What is the importance of effective communication in a business? What is the process of recruitment? What is effective training and development? How do businesses motivate staff?
Year 11 Business	Theme 2: 2.5. Making human resource decisions. *Key concepts that would be covered:* What are organisational structures? What is the importance of effective communication in a business? What is the process of recruitment? What is effective training and development? How do businesses motivate staff?	Theme 1 & 2: Revision lessons on theme one and two topics. Practice exam questions. *Key areas:* Enhancing the following skills: Describe Explain Justify Analytical Evaluation	Theme 1 & 2: Revision lessons on theme one and two topics. Practice exam questions. *Key areas:* Enhancing the following skills: Describe Explain Justify Analytical Evaluation

Autumn Term

Spring Term

Summer Term

Year 9 Business

Theme-1

1. Enterprise and Entrepreneurship
2. Spotting a business opportunity

Key concepts that would be covered:

Why new business ideas come about?
What is the impact of risks and rewards on the business activity?
What is the role and purpose of business enterprise and business activity?

What customer needs are (price, quality, choice, convenience)
What is the purpose and different types of market research?
How businesses use market segmentation to target customers?

Theme-1

1.3 Putting a business idea into practice

1.4 Making the business effective

Key concepts that would be covered:

What are business aims and objectives?
How do businesses manage costs, revenue and profits?
What is the importance of cash to a business (cash flow)?
What are the different sources of finance for an established as well as a start-up business?

What are the implications of business liabilities (limited and unlimited)?
What are the different types of business ownership?
What factors influence business location?
What is marketing mix and significance of each element (4P’s)?

Theme-1

1.4. Continuing with making the business effective

1.5 Understanding external influences on business

Key concepts that would be covered:

How do elements of marketing mix work together?
What is the importance of a business plan?

Who business stakeholders are and their different objectives?
How stakeholders are affected by business activity
How stakeholder impact business activity?
What are the possible conflicts between stakeholder groups?
How technology influences business activity in terms of sales, costs, marketing mix?

Year 10 Business

Theme-1

1.4. Making the business effective

1.5 Understanding external influences on business

Key concepts that would be covered:

Understanding and analysing: break-even, costs, cash flow and sources of finance.
What is a franchise

Why is business location vital?

What is a marketing mix?
The impact of location on a business.
What is the purpose of a business plan?

How does technology affect a business?
What is the economy?
What are external influences?
What are the different types of external influences?
How do external influences have an impact on a business?

Theme 2:

2.1. Growing the business

2.2. Making Marketing decisions

Key concepts that would be covered:

What are the different types of finance a business could use to grow?
What is globalisation?
Why is globalisation beneficial to businesses?
Why are 4ps important in a business?
How does a marketing mix affect business decisions?

Theme 2:

2.3. Making Operational decisions.

2.4. Making financial decisions.

Key concepts that would be covered:

What are organisational structures?
What is the importance of effective communication in a business?
What is the process of recruitment?
What is effective training and development?
How do businesses motivate staff?

Year 11 Business

Theme 2:

2.5. Making human resource decisions.

Key concepts that would be covered:

What are organisational structures?
What is the importance of effective communication in a business?
What is the process of recruitment?
What is effective training and development?
How do businesses motivate staff?

Theme 1 & 2:

Revision lessons on theme one and two topics.

Practice exam questions.

Key areas:

Enhancing the following skills:
Describe
Explain
Justify
Analytical
Evaluation

Theme 1 & 2:

Revision lessons on theme one and two topics.

Practice exam questions.

Key areas:

Enhancing the following skills:
Describe
Explain
Justify
Analytical
Evaluation

Impact

The business curriculum would provide opportunities to build on interpersonal skills such as, leadership, teamwork, communication. Whilst developing analytical and evaluative skills. However, the curriculum would enable students to gain a career preview of which sector they would want to work in, in terms of marketing, finance, human resources or operations management. The subject also allows students to understand how skills achieved from other subjects are transferred in business. Meaning the cross-over in mathematics and finance or English enabling pupils to communicate orally and in writing.