Business

Level 3 Pathway - In order to enrol onto our Level 3 courses, students must have achieved a minimum of 5 grade 4s at GCSE Level across 4 different subject areas; this should ideally include a Grade 4 for English Language and Mathematics.

It is important that students also pay attention to any individual subject entry requirements.

It may be that a small number of students are recommended to sit AS qualifications at the end of Year 12 in order to inform decisions about progression into Year 13, however these AS examinations are standalone and do not contribute to the overall A Level qualification.

Why?

Entry numbers for Business and related subjects at university are growing more rapidly than for any other subject. This reflects its relevance to almost any career and progression to higher education particularly in Business, Accountancy, Marketing and Economics. Students should have a broad interest in current affairs and a specific interest in investigating and responding to practical problems. Business touches on a range of issues that arise in managing organisations of all kinds. As such it provides a sound and illuminating background to the world of business.

Course Structure

Theme 1: Marketing and People

• Meeting customer needs
• The market
• Marketing mix and strategy
• Managing people
• Entrepreneurs and leaders

Theme 2: Managing business activities

• Raising finance
• Financial planning
• Managing finance
• Resource management
• External influences

Theme 3: Business Decision and strategy

Develops the concepts introduced in Theme 2

• Business objectives and strategy
• Business growth
• Decision-making techniques
• Influences on business decisions
• Assessing competitiveness
• Managing change

Theme 4: Global business

Develops the concepts introduced in Theme 1

• Globalisation
• Global markets and business
• Expansion
• Global marketing
• Global industries and companies (multinational corporations)

A Level Assessment

Questions will be drawn from local, national and global contexts.

Paper 1 - 2 hours (35% of qualification) Themes 1 and 4

Paper 2 - 2 hours (35% of qualification) Themes 2 and 3

Paper 3 - 2 hours (30% of qualification) Themes 1, 2, 3 to 4

extended learning

Regular extended learning tasks will include business case studies, research activities and exam practice questions.

In addition, students are recommended to read a high quality newspaper on a regular basis.

Ideally Grade 5 GCSE English Language and Grade 5 GCSE Mathematics