Qualification: GCSE Business (8132)
Exam Board: AQA
Coursework: None
Exam: 100% (delete as necessary)
Exam Structure: 2 x 1hr 45min exam papers sat in the summer of Year 11
Link to specification: AQA GCSE Business

Course Overview:
In Year 10 students will learn about:

• Business in the real world: this topic encompasses introductory topics such as learning about entrepreneurs and their motivation, skills and characteristics when starting a business, as well as learning about different legal structures when starting a business, to factors considered when choosing a location and how to grow a business once it is up and running
• Human resources: this topic explains how businesses organise their workers into organisational structures, how decision making is organised, recruitment, selection and motivation strategies for improving staff retention and productivity
• Marketing: this topic explains the process of understanding customers needs, using segmentation strategies, market research and then how to design an integrated marketing mix
• At the end of Year 10 students participate in an inter-school business plan competition which brings together all that they have learnt in a fun and engaging way

In Year 11 students will learn about:

• Production: this topic explains how production can be organised in terms of job and flow production techniques, lean production techniques, such as Just In Time (JIT) and Just in Case production and stock control, as well as quality processes and customer services
• Finance: this topic covers difference financial statements such as cash flow forecasts, break-even analysis, statements of comprehensive income and statements of financial position and uses these to analyse the performance of a business and suggest strategies businesses can use to improve performance
• Influences on business: this topic explains factors that are not under the control of the business but which affect the performance of the business, such as globalisation, technology, the economy and legislation

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Qualification: BTEC Tech award in Enterprise (603/7063/4)
Exam Board: Edexcel
Coursework: 67% 2 pieces of internally assessed coursework, but externally moderated, completed under supervised conditions
Exam: 33%
Exam Structure: 1 x 2 hours exam paper sat in February of Year 11
Link to specification: BTEC Tech Awards Enterprise (2022)

Course Overview:
In Year 10 students will learn about:

• Component 1: Internally assessed coursework 33%
  • Characteristics of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), and will choose two SMEs to research and write about for their Component 1 coursework
  • The skills and characteristics of entrepreneurs and how these contribute to the businesses success
  • Business aims and objectives
  • Understanding internal and external factors that can affect the success of a business, including customer service and competitors
  • SWOT and PESTLE frameworks to complete situational analysis of their 2 SMEs in order to evaluate the factors that are most important to the success of their businesses
• Component 3: Externally assessed exam on Marketing and Finance
  • In Year 10 the marketing elements are covered as well as an introduction to financial documents such as purchase orders, delivery notes and invoices

In Year 11 students will learn about:

• Component 3: Externally assessed exam on Marketing and Finance
  • Payment methods used by consumers
  • Sources of revenues and costs for businesses
  • Financial statements such as statement of comprehensive income and statement of financial position
  • Profitability and liquidity ratios
  • Break-even and cash flow
  • Internal and external sources of finance
• Component 2: Internally assessed coursework on planning for and running a business
  • Creating ideas, market research and choosing 3 possible businesses to start
  • Drawing up a business plan to show the marketing plan, as well as the forecasted financials such as break-even, cash flow forecast and profit projections
  • Pitching the business idea in a presentation
  • Reviewing and evaluating the business idea in light of feedback from their business pitch