SUBJECT SPECIFIC ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

GCSE grade 6 or above in GCSE Business. Grade 6 GCSE English Language or Literature. GCSE grade 5 or above in Mathematics.

WHAT DOES THE COURSE INVOLVE?

Business helps you to develop an understanding of business organisations, the markets they serve and the process of adding value. This is a very varied subject that enables you to better understand current affairs and equips you with knowledge and skills relevant to many aspects of everyday life. Business behaviour is considered from a variety of perspectives, using an investigative, problem-solving and integrated approach. A willingness to use numerical techniques is important, as is the ability to communicate effectively in writing.

• Theme 1:
  Marketing and people, including meeting customer needs, the market, marketing mix and strategy, managing people, and entrepreneurs and leaders.
• Theme 2:
  Managing business activity, including raising finance, financial planning, managing finance, resource management and external influences.
• Theme 3:
  Business decisions and strategy, including business objectives and strategy, business growth, decision-making techniques and influences on business decisions, assessing competitiveness, and managing change.
• Theme 4:
  Global business, including globalisation, global markets and business expansion, global marketing and global industries and companies (multinational corporations).

WHAT ARE THE TEACHING AND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES?

You will learn through case studies, project work, research assignments, class discussion and group activities. Computers are used to aid business analyses and to enable you to experience business situations in a challenging and stimulating way. The aim, in all activities, is to develop a firm grasp of business principles by applying these to real-life case studies where the emphasis is on decision making and problem-solving. Independent learning is also an important feature of the course.

HOW WILL I BE ASSESSED?

WHY IS THIS QUALIFICATION USEFUL?

A-Level Business lays the foundations for all students to study a variety of Business related courses at university, for example; Business and Management, Finance and Accounting, Business and Public Relations, with possible career links to Human Resources, Accountancy, Marketing, Management, Banking, Insurance and Retail.