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Business Studies

Departmental Staff

 

Mrs A. McKenny (Head of Department)      Mr G. McStocker  

Mr E. Loughran

Mrs E. Beggs

Ms B. Geraghty

Mrs T. McCullagh

Mr M. Stevenson     

      

Studying Business Studies

 

Business Studies provides students with a unique insight into the world of work. Through its study, students discover how businesses operate and learn about their key elements and essential business functions. This knowledge is invaluable to those students who are approaching or currently in the   workplace.

 

Students gain better understanding of business through active participation in the business environment. Students are encouraged to gain practical, presentational, personal, interpersonal and cognitive skills and recognition of social and ethical issues in business.

 

 

Aims of Department

  • Develop students’ knowledge and understanding of the business world and prepare students for working life in an ever changing economy.

  • Develop the student’s skills and qualities necessary for life thus enabling students to make moral judgements and to participate in decision making as consumers, producers and citizens.

  • Encourage an understanding of and response to different cultures within our society.

  • Foster good relationships with parents and the community and to provide a suitable environment to develop in students the qualities to become responsible and caring adults. 

  • Help each student enjoy his/her learning experience.

 

 

 

We currently offer a range of KS4 and KS5 Business qualifications:

  • GCSE Business and Communication Systems

  • BTEC First Award in Business (Level 2)

  • BTEC National Extended Certificate in Business (Level 3)

  • BTEC National Diploma in Business (Level 3)

 

 

KS4 Curriculum

 

GCSE Business & Communications Systems

 Awarding Body:   CCEA                                                                           

 

Business and Communication Systems is an exciting and practical subject that recognises how ICT is in the foreground of all business activities. GCSE Business and Communications Systems encourage students to engage actively in the study of business and digital technology in order to develop as effective and independent learners. Students will become aware of the changing role of digital technologies in business and economic activities.

This course will improve students knowledge and provide the skills necessary for future careers in the business world. Through its study, students discover how businesses operate and learn about their key elements and essential business functions.

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Unit 1: Software Applications for Business (Exam)

In this unit, students learn about relevant functions in software applications and develop their skills in using them in business contexts. When using software applications, students should be aware of standard ways of working and best practice approaches.

 

Unit 2: The Business Environment (Exam)

In this unit, students gain a broad introduction to the business world. They learn about recruitment, selection, training and marketing as well as the implications of digital technology for business.

Students consider different roles, including stakeholders and customers, as well as how best to communicate a message. They look at all these factors in the context of the changing nature of business today.

 

Unit 3: Developing Digital Solutions (Controlled Assessment)

In this unit, students use the skills they have developed in Units 1 and 2 to plan and develop a digital solution for a business. This unit is synoptic; it tests students’ understanding of the connections between the different elements of the subject.

 

 

BTEC First Award in Business

Awarding Body: Edexcel                        

Level: Level 2

 

This course is assessed by 75% coursework (3 units ) and 25% examination (1 exam).

BTEC courses are graded by Pass, Merit or Distinction.

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BTEC First Award in Business:

  • encourages personal development of knowledge and skills relevant to the business world through practical participation in a range of vocational business activities

  • gives learners a wider understanding and appreciation of the broad range of business specialisms through selection of optional specialist units

  • encourages learners to develop their people, communication, planning and team working skills by having the opportunity to select from optional units available in the qualification structure

  • gives full-time learners the opportunity to enter employment in the business sector or to progress to other vocational qualifications, such as the Edexcel BTEC Level 3 Nationals in Business

  • gives learners the opportunity to develop a range of skills and techniques, personal skills and attributes essential for successful performance in working life.

 

Unit 1: Enterprise in the Business World   

Introduces students to the language and terminology used in business. It explores what businesses do, trends that affect them, how they operate and the factors that influence their success.

 

Unit 2: Finance for Business

Explores the types of costs that businesses incur, from the initial start-up costs involved in setting up a business to the on-going daily costs of running the business. It looks at the ways in which the sale of products and services generates revenue, and profit; how businesses plan for success and the techniques used to assist the planning process. It explores break-even analysis, budgeting and cash flow forecasts. The final part of the unit explores the ways in which businesses measure success and identify areas for improvement; understanding how gross profit and net profit are calculated and the relationship between sales, cost of sales and gross profit analysing key financial statements and review their importance in the successful financial management of a business.

 

Unit 4: Principles of Customer Service

Develops and broadens understanding of customer service in different businesses. It develops knowledge and understanding of customer needs and expectations and provides the opportunity to examine a wide range of different types of internal and external customers and how businesses set internal policies and procedures to ensure that staff maintain customer service standards.

 

 

Unit 8: Recruitment, Selection and Employment

Introduces students to the variety of job roles that exist within businesses and the various functions that are performed by individual roles, as well as the types of organisational structures used in businesses.

 

 

 

KS5 Curriculum

 

BTEC National Extended Certificate in Business {Equivalent in size to 1 A level}

BTEC National Diploma in Business {Equivalent in size to 2 A levels}

 

Awarding Body: Edexcel                         Level: Level 3

 

BTEC Business provides students with a broad introduction to the field of Business and gives students transferable knowledge and skills. These qualifications are for post-16 learners who want to continue their education through applied learning. The qualifications prepare learners for a range of higher education courses and job roles related to Business.

 

We offer two BTEC Level 3 courses:

 

  1. BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Business

 

The Extended Certificate is for students who are interested in learning about the business sector alongside other fields of study, with a view to progressing to a wide range of higher education courses, not necessarily in business-related subjects.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Students will study 4 units over two years, of which 2 units are externally assessed.

 

 

External assessment (58%).

 

2. BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Business

 

The Diploma is designed for students have a keen interest in Business.  

 

Students will study 8 units over two years, of which 3 units are externally assessed.

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External assessment (45%).

 

Students must achieve all external units at pass grade or above.

Students are only permitted to resit external assessment once.

 

  

Links with the Local Community   

 

Within the Business Studies department, we have developed close links with the following local organisations:

  • Tesco

  • Asda

  • Copeland

  • Rocwell

  • McDonalds

  • Cookstown Enterprise Centre

  • The Rotary Club

  • Bank of Ireland

 

We thank all local businesses for their continued support.

 

 

Extra Curricular Activities

 

Within the Business Studies department, we realise the importance of developing pupils holistically and encourage students to participate in a range of extra-curricular activities:

  • Enterprise Competition

  • Business  Club

  • School Bank

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