Business
Business Studies is a subject which offers students the opportunity to understand the economic world around them, bringing to life the consumer society in which we live.
The enormous reach of business and enterprise means learning in Business Studies is contemporary, real-world and personal.
Understanding business and how and why decisions are made by businesses and consumers allows students to understand why McDonalds is omnipresent whereas Woolworths is no more. As we delve into the world of human resources students are encouraged to translate their learning into understanding their own skills and attributes and how these will help them guide their way through the world of work.
The Business Studies curriculum builds a sound knowledge base in students but also helps them to build their skill set including the ability to research, debate, compromise and make decisions. Knowledge is checked through recapping and recovering in each lesson and formally assessed through half-termly mini tests as well as formal mock exams. The key areas of study in Business are business activity (including the role of enterprise and entrepreneurship), marketing (including market research), human resources, operations, finance and external influences on business (including the economic environment and global business).
The curriculum is designed in a way that allows students to translate their knowledge learnt into the next theme meaning students clearly understand the interconnectedness of all areas of business.
GCSE Business (Year 10 & 11)
Whilst Business Studies is not formally studied at KS3 we are currently developing our ‘enterprise’ offering at Hemel Hempstead School as part of the evolution of The HHEx This will give younger students the chance to get involved in enterprise initiatives and to understand the importance of enterprise as a key personal attribute. By the beginning of Year 10, through The HHEx and Enterprise Curriculum opportunities, students will have developed their skills around; Teamwork, Negotiation, Leadership and Followership.
The curriculum increases in challenge as the breadth of knowledge required increases throughout Key Stage 4 but the foundation of knowledge required is revisited constantly.
The curriculum in year 10 and 11 is organised by business area which allows students to develop a deep understanding of individual concepts of importance whilst always applying knowledge to wider business questions and challenges. The pace at which knowledge is learnt increases through KS4 to ensure that earlier key concepts are understood by all students before the challenge increases over time.
By the beginning of year 10 students will understand; the role of business and enterprise, the characteristics of enterprise and entrepreneurship, the features of business, the aims of business and the role of ethical business. We follow the OCR GCSE Business qualification. They study three units in Year 10; business activity, marketing and human resources. The students study a further 4 units in Year 11; operations, finance, influences on business and the interdependent nature of business Throughout all units the focus is not only on the learning of knowledge but always on the development of key skills. By the end of year 10 students will have mastered the skills of what ? Why ? Advantages/Disadvantages ? Application and Evaluation ? This allows students to understand a concept, understand the rationale in context, understand the pros and cons of the concept, apply the concept to real world examples and offer their own evaluation to concepts. This skills base then allows students to more successfully negotiate the Year 11 curriculum and, in particular, allows them to readily access the final unit (The interdependent nature of business) which requires the linking of concepts from all the other units. By securing their knowledge base in Year 10 students are ready to move onto the strategic thinking and evaluation that is required in Year 11.
A Level Business (Year 12 & 13)
We follow the OCR A Level Business qualification. In Year 12 and 13 some students continue their study of Business from Key Stage 4 and others start for the first time at key Stage 5. Students are introduced to business which develops the work they did in Year 10 and 11. They also look at business objectives and strategic decisions, marketing and marketing strategies, operational strategy, human resources, accounting and financial considerations, the global environment of business. Throughout Year 12 students build a mastery of content knowledge as well developing evaluative skills so that in Year 13 they are equipped to take on the more strategic nature of the units covered in their final year.
