Business Studies

Intent

GCSE Business Studies

Our GCSE students study Edexcel GCSE Business Studies. This specification gives students the opportunity to explore real business issues and how businesses work. A relevant and diverse specification student will consider the practical application of business concepts. The units provide opportunities to explore theories and concepts in the most relevant way, through the context of events in the business and economic world.

In Year 10 students will study and investigate small businesses exploring areas such as enterprise, how to make a business effective and the external influences that affect businesses

In Year 11 students will look at how a business develops beyond the start-up phase. It focusses on the key business concepts issues and decisions used to grow a business, with emphasis on aspects of marketing, operations, finance and human resources.

Learning Journey

Names of staff, roles & contact details

Mrs E Kasmir
Subject Leader for Business and Computing
edr@baines.lancs.sch.uk

	HT1	HT2	HT3	HT4	HT5	HT6
Year 10	Topic 1.1 Enterprise and entrepreneurship	1.2 Spotting a business opportunity	Topic 1.3 Putting a business idea into practice	Topic 1.4 Making the business effective	Topic 1.5 Understanding external influences on business	Topic 2.1 Growing the business
Year 11	Topic 2.2 Making marketing decisions	Topic 2.3 Making marketing decisions	Topic 2.4 Making financial decisions Topic 2.5 Making human resource decisions	Revision and exam preparation of Theme 1 and 2	Revision and exam preparation of Theme 1 and 2	Revision and exam preparation of Theme 1 and 2

How and when is my child assessed?

At the start of each unit students are given a knowledge organiser with all of the key content as well as a booklet with more detailed knowledge. We check prior learning through retrieval activities at the start of lessons and complete exam questions on a regular basis. At the end of each unit of work students complete a revision mat which allows them to recap on all of the learning from the unit. The students then complete end of unit assessments which generally take place at the end of each half term, these include a range of question types and allow the students to develop their examination technique.

As well as this ongoing assessment students will also complete an exam at the end of year 10 which is based on paper 1 and covers all of their learning from year 10. In year 11 the students complete a prelim exam in the Autumn term and a Mock exam in the spring term both of which assess both Year 10 and Year 11 work.

Name of course(s) offered	Exam Board	Link to Spec	Nature of assessment
GCSE Business	Edexcel	https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-gcses/business-2017.html	Two examinations - Theme 1 and Theme 2 both 1 hr 45 min in length

Teaching Strategies

In GCSE Business we use real life case studies that students will be aware of so we can apply our knowledge including JD sports, KFC, Cineworld and Sainsburys. We also look at smaller local businesses within the Poulton-Le-Fylde and Blackpool area. We also follow the news so that we can use real life events to support our learning by making links to our learning in class.

In GCSE Business we continue to use Google Classroom to provide students with all the resources they need to be successful including knowledge organisers, booklets with all the key content, an online textbook and revision materials.

On Monday nights students can attend the Business classroom to further develop their knowledge and focus on examination technique. Students are regularly invited to attend specific sessions to enable them to progress well.

Learning Outside The Classroom

Business Studies

Students can use Google classroom from home to support their learning and this is regularly updated. We encourage students to develop an interest in business outside of the classroom by watching related programmes such as ‘The Apprentice’ and ‘Dragons den’. Each year students select an Apprentice candidate to follow throughout the process and we regularly discuss the progress they make and how the tasks link in to our learning in the classroom.

There are two books for this course although these are not required. We order revision guides in to school for the students at a discounted rate.

Edexcel GCSE 9-1 Business, Second Edition Student Book (Hodder Education)

Edexcel GCSE 9-1 Business Student Book (Pearson – Helen Coupland-Smith, Cathy Richards, Andrew Redfern, Julie Smith and Ian Rowbory)

Links to the books are provided but cheaper deals may be found elsewhere.

It is always good for the students to have an interest in business outside the classroom and they can look at the BBC Business news as well as the BBC Bitesize revision website. There are also various other websites that can be used including:

Tutor 2 U

GCSE Business – Edexcel

Last updated April 2025