Business Department

Key Stage 3

The business world comprises an enormous variety of different careers. The BTEC First Business aims to give students a practical understanding, developing the knowledge and understanding required for progression to further study or employment. Students have the opportunity to study specific areas of business, such as, accounting, starting a small business or marketing.

Following completion of the BTEC First Certificate in Business, successful candidates would be able to enter initial employment, at a junior level, in such areas as administration assistance or telesales operations, or as a progression route to A Level or equivalent courses in the 6th form. The achievement of the BTEC First Certificate has the equivalence of GCSEs graded A*-C.

Key Stage 4

The business world is constantly changing. This new Applied GCSE course has been updated to give you the chance to learn about these changes as well as covering conventional material. There are four units.

The course is modular and flexible so you can complete either a Single or Double Award, one or two GCSE passes. Most students take two years to complete either award but you can take units in both years. Applied Business has strong links with lots of other subjects and develops skills such as IT, as well as enhancing your communication and mathematical skills. After completing the GCSE Applied Business course you can progress into many different areas of study and work, including; GCE A Level Business; BTEC National Business; ICT; traineeships or apprenticeships in finance, administration and clerical occupations.

Key Stage 5

The idea behind the GCE Applied Business (Advanced Subsidiary and Advanced Level) specification is that to understand the nature of business, candidates must actively experience the business environment. The AS and Advanced GCE in Applied Business are vocational qualifications that enable candidates to develop both a broad understanding of Applied Business principles and give them the opportunity to focus on a specific pathway, eg Marketing, Finance, Human Resources and Administration.

The specification encourages candidates to develop skills, knowledge and understanding of realistic business contexts through a variety of approaches from the theoretical to those with a clear practical emphasis, including work experience, case studies and research. Candidates also have opportunities to explore and discuss their interests and aspirations and to develop sufficient depth of understanding to inform their choices between further study, training or employment.