Business Studies
Business Studies Teaching Staff
- Mrs S Lydford – Curriculum Leader
Why Business Studies is Important
At Wey Valley Academy a qualification in Business Studies will open doors to interviews and opportunities in many avenues of enterprise. Business Studies is an outstanding addition to any student’s curriculum vitae and in many cases the course can be a life changing experience. In order to achieve the very best possible outcomes, Business Studies is committed to providing students with extra-curricular support after school, specifically tailored resources and teaching from practitioners with experience and qualifications in business, as well as external speakers when relevant.
Key Stage 4
In Key Stage 4 the intent is to guide students through the Edexcel GCSE 9-1, which allows for progression onto a higher level through Key Stage 5 and then further, should they wish to do so.
Content
There are two examined themes; ‘Investigating Small Business’ and ‘Growing a Business’.
Theme 1 concentrates on the key business concepts, issues and skills involved in starting and running a small business. It provides a framework for students to explore core concepts through the lens of an entrepreneur setting up a business. In this theme, students will be introduced to local and national business contexts and will develop an understanding of how these contexts impact business behaviour and decisions. Local contexts refer specifically to small businesses or those operating in a single UK location and national contexts relate to businesses operating in more than one location or across the UK. Students must develop an understanding of the interdependent nature of business activity through interactions between business operations, finance, marketing and human resources, as well as the relationship between the business and the environment in which it operates.
Theme 2 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. Theme 2 also considers 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.
Cultural Capital is embedded throughout the Business Studies curriculum. Our students are introduced to a wide variety of viewpoints from some of the most influential economists and entrepreneurs throughout history. We investigate the impact that their work has had on the world we live in and students are encouraged to make links between their studies and real life examples. Students undertake this whilst developing an increased understanding of current events happening globally.
Business opportunities are like buses, there’s always another one coming.
- Richard Branson