Welcome to the Business Studies homepage.
Courses Offered:
GCSE Business Studies
GCSE Business & Communication Systems
GCE Business Studies (AS and A2)
What is Business Studies?
At Magherafelt High School our Business Studies couses provide students with a unique insight into the world of work. Through its study, students discover how businesses operate and learn about their key elements and essential business functions.
This knowledge, and the holistic understanding that develops, is invaluable to those students who are approaching or currently in the workplace. It offers an excellent foundation for those wishing to pursue careers in management, marketing, project management, business accounting, management consultancy, human resources, and business journalism as well as those interested in continuing on to further study.
GCSE Business Studies
Students studying a GCSE in Business Studies at Magherafelt High School, will gain business knowledge, understanding and skills. They begin to understand current events in local, national and global contexts. They learn how to use relevant terms, concepts and methods effectively to describe business and economic behaviour. Students also consider business ethics and the impact of business on the environment.
Within the Business Studies department we want our students to develop as independent learners and encourage them to use an enquiring, critical approach to distinguish facts from opinions, form arguments and make informed judgements.
This course prepares students for further study of business and business-related subjects, including Advanced Subsidiary GCE in Business Studies, Advanced GCE in Business Studies and Applied GCE in Business.
This GCSE Business Studies specification has two units:
- Business Start Up; and
- Business Development.
The content of each unit is described in more detail below.
Unit |
Content |
Business Start Up |
- Business Start Up
- Production
- Marketing
|
Business Development |
- Finance
- Managing People
- Business Growth
- Business Plan
|
In GCSE Business Studies, students must sit two examinations.
One exam lasts 1 hour 20 minutes and assesses the students on their knowledge and understanding of Unit 1: Business Start Up. It is worth 35% of the final award and is available every summer.
The other exam lasts 1 hour 40 minutes and may test students on their knowledge and understanding of any aspect of the course. It is worth 40% and is available as terminal assessment.
GCSE Business & Communication Systems
Through studying GCSE Business and Communication Systems at Magherafelt High School, students:
- gain business knowledge, understanding and skills;
- gain practical ICT skills; and
- gain an understanding of how ICT skills are used to enhance business activities, particularly through e-commerce.
This course is very relevant to today’s business world. It helps students understand the changing role of ICT in business and economic activities. It also helps students understand the ways in which market environments are changing because of ICT, for example the rise of e-business.
This course helps students develop practical ICT and business skills that are useful in a diverse range of employment roles. It also prepares students for studying business and ICT at a more advanced level.
Our GCSE in Business and Communication Systems is divided into three units:
- Use of ICT;
- The Business Environment; and
- E-Commerce.
Students must complete all three themes. The content of each theme is outlined in more detail in the table below.
Unit
|
Content |
Use of ICT |
- Word-Processing
- Spreadsheets
- Charts
- Databases
- Presentations
- Using the Internet and Email
|
The Business Environment |
- Business Activity
- Types of Business Ownership
- Aims of Business
- The Role of the Social Enterprise
- Uncertainty, Risk, Reward and Change
- Stakeholders
- Customers
- Communication
- Business Ethics and Social Responsibility
- Marketing
- Market Research
- Methods: Primary/Field and Secondary/Desk
- Competition
- Marketing Mix
- Remuneration
- Recruitment and Selection
- Training
|
E-Commerce |
- Role of ICT
- Advantages and Disadvantages of E-Business
- Effective Business Websites
- Legal Implications of E-Business
- Web Design
|
GCE Business Studies (AS & A2)
Studying GCE Business Studies at Magherafelt High School, students will:
- gain an insight into the world of business;
- gain understanding of organisations and their ability to meet society’s needs and wants;
- learn how to develop enterprising and creative solutions to business problems and issues;
- become aware of the ethical dilemmas and responsibilities faced by organisations and individuals; and
- acquire a range of skills including:
- decision making;
- problem solving;
- the ability to quantify and manage information; and
- the ability to challenge assumptions.
GCE Business Studies is made up of two levels: AS and A2. Students can take the AS course as a final qualification without progressing to the A2 Level. However, those wanting to obtain the full Advanced GCE must complete both the AS and the A2 Level.
The course has a modular structure. Students study two units at AS and a further two at A2 Level.
The individual units are listed in the table below:
Unit |
Summary of Content |
AS 1: The Competitive Business |
- Central purpose of business activity
- Forms of business organisation
- Markets and market forces
- Spectrum of competition
- Market research
- Marketing mix
- Product life-cycle
- Market planning and strategy
- Quality management
- Investment and productivity
|
AS 2: Managing Business Resources |
- Organisational design
- Communication
- Motivation
- Non-monetary methods of motivation
- Principles of management and leadership
- Investing in people
- Break-even analysis
- Budgeting, cash flow and variance analysis
- Cash flow
- Variance analysis
- Final accounts
- Depreciation
|
A2 1: Making Business Decisions |
- Business objectives
- Stakeholder objectives
- Business strategy and planning business plan
- Decision tree analysis
- Contingency planning
- Company accounts
- Ratio analysis
- Investment appraisal
|
A2 2: The Changing Business Environment |
- Macroeconomic framework
- Globalisation
- Business ethics and corporate social responsibility
- Corporate culture
- Change
- Reports
|
Within the Business Studies Department at Magherafelt High School, teaching and learning is developed by using a number of different classroom strategies, pupils are encouraged to develop evaluative, analytical and research skills using Case Studies, the internet, classroom presentations, project work and role plays.
Continuous effort - not strength or intelligence - is the key to unlocking our potential.
Winston Churchill
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