Business Studies A level

For entry into the Sixth Form to study 3 A' Levels, students are required to achieve 5 grades at 9-5 (or where applicable A*-C) including English Language and Mathematics at Grade 4 or above.

In exceptional cases, students that do not reach the entry criteria based on their attainment in English or mathematics will be admitted to the 6th form with the addition of GCSE retake classes in the appropriate subject to their timetable. This based on 6th form discretion.

While we would encourage students to study 3 A levels, in exceptional cases and following conversation at interview we may support a student to study 4. All students will have the option to study for Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) alongside their A levels.

A grade 6 is recommended in any subject that a student wishes to continue at A Level. Students are welcome to discuss entry criteria for specific subjects and to ensure that their subject choices match their goals and aspirations.

Students wishing to study Mathematics require a grade 6 and in Further Maths require a Grade 7 in the subject at GCSE.

This course aims to encourage you to develop an enthusiasm for studying business and to gain a holistic understanding of business.

The course is aimed at students who wish to gain a contemporary and forward-looking perspective to business. In preparing for the challenges of the business environment, the course provides a foundation in business and management studies, alongside specialist studies in human resource management and business strategy. Students will develop a critical understanding of organisations and their ability to meet society’s needs and wants. Students will be encouraged to consider ethical dilemmas and provoked to generate enterprising and creative approaches to opportunities, problems and issues.

There is no specific requirement for students to have studied Business to GCSE or an equivalent level although students should be aware that the course does demand a range of qualitative and quantitative skills.

Course details:

Students are introduced to business in Themes 1 and 2 through building knowledge of core business concepts and applying them to business contexts to develop a broad understanding of how businesses work. Application to a wider range of contexts are developed in Themes 3 and 4, requiring students to take a more strategic view of business opportunities and issues.

Theme 1: Marketing and People

In this theme, students are introduced to the market, marketing, people functions, investigate entrepreneurs and business start up. It assesses opportunity and how businesses focus on developing a competitive advantage. Students develop an understanding of how carefully businesses need to tailor their marketing to operate in a dynamic business environment. Within this theme students also study how to recruit, train, organise and motivate employees, as well as the role of enterprising individuals and leaders.

Theme 2: Managing business activities

In this theme, students explore the finance and operations functions, and investigate external influences on business. Students develop an understanding of raising and managing finance, and measuring business performance. The theme outlines the importance of being efficient and its relationship with quality. Economic and legal influences are also studied in this section of the course.

Theme 3: Business decisions and strategy

In this theme, students develop their understanding functional understandings to strategy in order to identify business opportunities and issues. Students analyse corporate objectives and strategy against financial and non-financial performance measures and how businesses grow, and develop an understanding of the impact of external influences. The theme covers the causes and effects of change and how businesses mitigate risk and uncertainty.

Theme 4: Global business

In this theme, students develop their understanding of the concepts introduced in Theme 1 and explore business activity in a global context. Students investigate businesses that trade on a global scale and explore their reasons for doing so. Students develop an understanding of the globally competitive environment and consider the ethical and moral dimensions of global business activities.

How is the course assessed?

Students must complete three, two hour, external assessments at the end of their second year.

To complete an A Level in this subject it is necessary to achieve a Grade 5 at GCSE, although we strongly advise that students should be looking at achieving at least a Grade 6 at GCSE to have a secure platform for entry on to the course.

The courses will be useful for students planning to enter the workplace straight after A levels or those planning to go to university. Students hoping to enter the fields of advertising; marketing; sales; personnel management; production management; retail; management consultancy; purchasing; accountancy or corporate law should consider taking this courses.