Subject Vision

The Business department aspires to be a dynamic and innovative hub of learning that equips students with the knowledge, skills and ethical foundation necessary to excel in a rapidly evolving global economy. We aim to foster critical thinking, entrepreneurship and leadership through a rigorous curriculum, real-world applications and collaborative opportunities.

Our vision is to inspire students to become forward thinking, responsible business leaders who can navigate complex challenges and contribute positively to society and the global business landscape. Through the curriculum pathway on offer through KS3 to KS5, we seek to prepare students for not only success in their careers but also for meaningful and impactful roles in their communities and beyond.

 

Key Stage 3 Curriculum Overview

	Year 9
Autumn 1	Enterprise, consumer rights, financial risk and reward
Autumn 2	Credit cards, debit cards, budgeting
Spring 1	Money choices, money and mental health, staying in control of finances and keeping finances secure
Spring 2	Planning for retirement, understanding payslips, the need for insurance and unexpected costs
Summer 1	When I may need to borrow, economic cycles, time is money overview
Summer 2	Enterprise and entrepreneurship

 

Where does this subject lead me?

Studying business in Year 9 can provide a strong foundation for further educational and career opportunities. Potential progressions include:

1. Further education – GCSE Business, A Level Business and/or Economics, University.
2. Career opportunities – entrepreneurship and corporate roles.
3. Skill development – Critical thinking, financial literacy, leadership and communication.

Studying business in Year 9 is a valuable step in preparing for a wide range of academic and professional opportunities.

 

Key Stage 4 Curriculum Overview

24/25	Year 10	Year 11
Autumn 1	1.2 Spotting a business opportunity	1.5 External influences on business
Autumn 2	1.3 A business idea in practice	2.1 Growing the business
Spring 1	1.4 Making the business effective	2.2 and 2.4 Marketing and finances
Spring 2	1.5 External influences on business	2.3 and 2.4 Operations and finances
Summer 1	Theme 1 overview	2.5 Making HR decisions
Summer 2	2.1 Growing the business	Exam preparation

 

25/26	Year 10	Year 11
Autumn 1	1.2 Spotting a business opportunity	2.2 Making marketing decisions
Autumn 2	1.3 A business idea in practice	2.3 Making operational decisions
Spring 1	1.4 Making the business effective	2.4 Making financial decisions
Spring 2	1.5 External influences on business	2.5 Making HR decisions
Summer 1	Theme 1 overview	Theme 2 overview
Summer 2	2.1 Growing the business	Exam preparation

 

How is the course structured?

The Pearson Edexcel Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9–1) in Business consists of two externally examined papers.

Theme 1 (50% of marks) – Investigating a small business.

Theme 2 (50% of marks) – Building a business.

 

Where does this subject lead me?

This qualification in business will enable students to understand more about the business world whilst motivating and challenging students, preparing them to make informed decisions about further study and career pathways.

Students can progress from this qualification to a number of different academic and vocational qualifications at Level 3, including GCEs in Business, Economics History, Geography, and Psychology.

The knowledge and skills gained from GCSE Business support students’ entry into employment or other training in specific aspects of business, such as apprenticeships and vocational qualifications which focus on more specialised business areas.

GCSE Business provides a strong foundation for employment, with students progressing, with further training, to a wide range of careers training such as banking, sales, product management and general management.

 

Key Stage 5 Curriculum Overview

Business

	Year 12	Year 13
Autumn 1	Meeting customer needs The market Marketing mix and strategy	3.3 Decision-making techniques 3.4 Influences on business decisions
Autumn 2	2.1 Raising finance 2.2 Financial planning	3.5 Assessing competitiveness 3.6 Managing change
Spring 1	Managing people Entrepreneurs and leaders 2.3 Managing finance	4.1 Globalisation 4.2 Global markets and expansion
Spring 2	2.4 Resource management 2.5 External influences	4.3 Global marketing 4.4 Global industries and MNCs
Summer 1	3.1 Business objectives 3.1 Business strategy	Exam preparation
Summer 2	3.2 Business growth	External assessment

 

How is the course structured?

Paper 1, Marketing, people and global business (35%) – Each question is drawn from topics across Themes 1 and 4, and from one or more of the following contexts: local, national or global. Sections A and B each comprise one data response question broken down into a number of parts, including one extended open-response question.

Paper 2, Business activities, decisions and strategy (35%) – Each question is drawn from topics across Themes 2 and 3, and from one or more of the following contexts: local, national or global. Sections A and B each comprise one data response question broken down into a number of parts, including one extended open-response question.

Paper 3, Investigating business in a competitive environment (30%) – Section A will focus on the broad context provided in the pre-released document issued on our website in the November of the previous year. Section B will focus on at least one strand within the context provided. Each section will contain unseen stimulus materials comprising quantitative and qualitative evidence. Students are required to apply their knowledge and understanding from Themes 1, 2, 3 and 4 and their understanding of the broad context.

Where does this subject lead me?

Students will develop transferable skills that support higher education study and the transition to employment, including numeracy, communication, an understanding of the business environment and commercial awareness. Students can progress from this qualification to higher education courses such as business management, business administration, accountancy and finance, human resource management, marketing, retail management, tourism management and international business.

 

Careers Information

Students may also progress onto a wide range of careers ranging from banking, sales, product management and general management to working in public sector organisations or charities to students taking on their own entrepreneurial ventures.

 

Other Information

• Microsoft teams page.
• Seneca learning.
• BBC Bitesize.
• BBC Business.
• Tutor2u.
• Business Teacher T on social media.

 

Economics

To cultivate a deep understanding of economic principles and their real world applications, empowering students to become informed, critical thinkers who contribute to shaping a sustainable and equitable global economy. Our vision is to enthusiastically facilitate our students’ understanding of and engagement with the increasingly complex economies in which we live and to enable them to become informed and confident decision-makers as consumers, employees, managers and entrepreneurs of the future.

Key Stage 5 Curriculum Overview

Economics A	Year 12	Year 13
Autumn 1	1. Nature of economics 2. How markets work	3.1 Business growth 3.2 Business objectives 3.3 Revenue, costs and profit
Autumn 2	3. How markets work 4. Market failure	3.4 Market structures 3.5 Labour market 3.6 Government intervention
Spring 1	2.1 Measures of economic performance 2.2 Aggregate Demand	4.1 International economics 4.2 Poverty and inequality 4.3 Emerging and developing economies
Spring 2	2.3 Aggregate Supply 2.4 National income	4.4 The financial sector 4.5 Role of the state - macroeconomics
Summer 1	2.5 Economic growth 2.6 Macroeconomic objectives and policy	Exam preparation
Summer 2	Theme 1 and Theme 2 review	External assessment

 

 

Economics B	Year 12	Year 13
Autumn 1	1. Scarcity, choice and conflicts 2. Enterprise, business, the economy	3.1 Globalisation 3.2 Business expansion 3.3 Impact of global companies
Autumn 2	3. Introducing the market 4. The role of credit in the economy	3.4 Local and national economies 3.5 Global labour markets 3.6 Inequality and redistribution
Spring 1	5. Market failure and the government 6. Revenue, costs, profits and cash	4.1 Competition and market power 4.2 Market power and market failure 4.3 Market failure across the economy
Spring 2	2.1 Business growth and comp advantage 2.2 Firms, consumers and elasticities	4.4 Macro policy and impact 4.5 Risk and the financial sector
Summer 1	2.3 Productive efficiency 2.4 Life in a global economy	Exam preparation
Summer 2	2.5 The economic cycle 2.6 Intro to macroeconomic policy	External assessment

 

Where does this subject lead me?

Students will develop transferable skills that support study in a wide range of subjects at university and the transition to employment, including quantitative and analytical analysis, forming and testing hypotheses, and commercial awareness. The development and application of quantitative skills prepare students for study of economics and related courses at university. Students can progress from this qualification to higher education courses such as economics degrees with a focus on theory, or degrees in applied economics such as environmental economics, labour economics, public sector economics or monetary economics. Alternatively, students may choose to study a business economics, mathematical economics or business degree.

Careers Information

The qualification can lead to a wide range of careers, ranging from; finance, banking, insurance, accountancy, management and consultancy, to becoming professional economists.

Other Information

• Microsoft teams page.
• Seneca learning.
• Up Learn.
• Edexcel A Level revision guides.
• BBC Business.
• Tutor2u.