Why study Business Studies?
What leadership style does Mark Zuckerburg adopt and why? With the rapid expansion of Amazon over the past 20 years, will their market dominance continue or will their bold tactical management strategies cause their bubble to burst?
This new AQA specification introduces students to the challenges and issues of starting a business, including effective financial planning. It then focuses on how established businesses might improve their effectiveness by making tactical decisions at a functional level – whether they are a local, national or globalised organisation.
Year 1 units:
- What is business?
- Managers, leaders and decision making
- Decision making to improve marketing performance
- Decision making to improve operational performance
- Decision making to improve financial performance
- Decision making to improve human resource performance
Year two will continue to encompass the content above, and the following units:
- Analysing the strategic position of a business
- Choosing strategic direction
- Strategic methods: how to pursue strategies
- Managing strategic chance
The A level is assessed by three written examinations (2 hours each), each worth 33.33% in May/June of Year 13.
- Paper 1: 2 hr written paper consisting of multiple choice questions, short answer questions and one essay.
- Paper 2: 2 hr written paper consisting of three data response questions.
- Paper 3: 2 hr written paper consisting of approximately six questions based on one case study.
Extending Your Experience
Every year you will have the opportunity to participate in field trips and attend lectures and workshops that allow you to extend your wider business understanding and gain hands-on experience within large organisations. These trips include visits to New York City, Jaguar Land Rover (Solihull), London and Bristol (Strong Foundations Business Studies conference). Students also have the opportunity to take part in national Business competitions including the Student Investor Challenge (www.studentinvestor.org) and BASE (www. careers.icaew.com/campaigns/base-competition).
Entry Requirements :
Whilst no previous Business or Economics qualification is necessary in order to take A level Business, there is the minimum entry requirement of five grades at level 6 or equivalent. A grade 5 or above in Maths is preferred due to the level of financial analysis that is required. At least a grade 5 in English is also preferred - Business Studies is a Social Science subject, therefore students have a requirement to be able to structure essays and independently produce extended writing/research projects. You must be
a motivated individual who is keen to work with others in paired and group work. An interest in how a business might start up, how it performs and is affected by society and economic conditions on a local, national and global context is important. You will have a genuine interest in following the news on a weekly basis in order to apply our theory to current business issues.
Where will this course take me?
There are an extensive range of Business and Management courses available at university and many are combined with a range of other
subjects e.g. Sport Business Management, Business Economics, Human Resource Management, Fashion Marketing and Business Management, Cruise Management, International Marketing Management. All are extremely popular, making places for them very competitive.
All workplaces welcome Business students who have gained a well-rounded understanding of the workings of each functional area, who could then fit into any area of the organisation. Many employers invest in Advanced Apprenticeships in Business, providing further training or sponsoring apprentices
