Business Studies
Members of Staff
- Mr. A. Damani - Subject Lead of Business Studies
Edexcel GCSE Business
- Edexcel Business – Theme 1: Investigating small business 1BS0/01
- Edexcel Business – Theme 2: Building a business 1BS0/02
This is a GCSE qualification which will be delivered in year 9, 10 and 11. Students will sit two written exams in year 11 worth 50% each, weighing 90 marks per exam paper and will have 1 hour and 30 minutes to complete the paper.
Theme 1
Theme 1 concentrates on the key business concepts, issues and skills involved in starting and running a small business. It provides a framework for students to explore core concepts through the lens of an entrepreneur setting up a business. In this theme, students will be introduced to local and national business contexts and will develop an understanding of how these contexts impact business behaviour and decisions. Local contexts refer specifically to small businesses or those operating in a single UK location and national contexts relate to businesses operating in more than one location or across the UK. Students must develop an understanding of the interdependent nature of business activity through interactions between business operations, finance, marketing and human resources, as well as the relationship between the business and the environment in which it operates. Students must understand how these interdependencies and relationships underpin business decisions. Teaching approaches to the content must reflect this.
Theme 2
Theme 2 examines how a business develops beyond the start-up phase. It focuses on the key business concepts, issues and decisions used to grow a business, with emphasis on aspects of marketing, operations, finance and human resources. Theme 2 also considers the impact of the wider world on the decisions a business makes as it grows. In this theme, students will be introduced to national and global business contexts and will develop an understanding of how these contexts impact business behaviour and decisions. National contexts build on those in Theme 1 and relate to businesses operating in more than one location or across the UK. Global contexts relate to non-UK or transnational businesses. Students must develop an understanding of the interdependent nature of business activity through interactions between business operations, finance, marketing and human resources, as well as the relationship between the business and the environment in which it operates. Students must understand how these functional areas influence business activity and how interdependencies and relationships between them underpin business decisions. Teaching approaches to the content must reflect this.
Assessment information
- First assessment: May/June
- The assessment is 1 hour and 30 minutes.
- The assessment is out of 90 marks.
- Questions will relate to the content that appears in Theme 2 and students may draw on underpinning knowledge and understanding developed through Theme 1 as appropriate.
- The paper is divided into three sections - Section A: 35 marks o Section B: 30 marks o Section C: 25 marks.
- Students must answer all questions.
- The paper will consist of calculations, multiple–choice, short–answer and extended–writing questions.
- The paper will include questions that target mathematics at a minimum of Key Stage 3 level.
- Questions in Sections B and C will be based on business contexts given in the paper.
- Calculators may be used in the examination.
Support Your Child
- Homework is set weekly via https://www.showmyhomework.co.uk/
- Homework is completed on Seneca Learning, all students have access to this platform and can be used on any device.
- Ask your child if they have any homework.
- Encourage your child to complete homework on time.
- Remind them to put adequate effort into their homework.
Here are some websites that may help with your child’s homework:
BBC GCSE bitesize has lots of useful revision and self-testing pages for GCSE students
Revision guides, hints, tips and a range of resources for students to work on to build their business knowledge
Ex teacher who specialises in delivering revision materials for students at GCSE level
Interactive animated learning guide to recall and reconsolidate key terminology
Topics Studied at KS4 Business
Topics covered in Year 9
Topic 1.1: Enterprise and entrepreneurship
- 1.1.1: The dynamic nature of business
- 1.1.2: Risk and reward
- 1.1.3: The role of business enterprise
Topic 1.2: Spotting a business opportunity
- 1.2.1: Customer needs
- 1.2.2: Market research
- 1.2.3: Market Segmentation
- 1.2.4: The competitive environment
Topic 1.3: Putting a business idea into practice
- 1.3.1: Business aims and objectives
- 1.3.2: Business revenues, costs and profits
- 1.3.3: Cash and cash-flow
- 1.3.4: Sources of business finance
Topic 1.4: Making the business effective
- 1.4.1: The options for start-up and small business
- 1.4.2: Business location
- 1.4.3: The marketing mix
- 1.4.4: Business plans
End of year test to reconsolidate 4 topics covered.
Topics covered in Year 10:
Topic 1.5: Understanding external influence on business
- 1.5.1: Business stakeholders
- 1.5.2: Technology and business
- 1.5.3: Legislation and business
- 1.5.4: The economy and business
- 1.5.5: External influences
Paper 1 test to reconsolidate 5 units learned.
Topic 2.1: Growing the business
- 2.1.1: Business growth
- 2.1.2: Changes in business aims and objectives
- 2.1.3: Business and globalisation
- 2.1.4: Ethics, the environment and business
Topic 2.2: Making marketing decisions
- 2.2.1: Product
- 2.2.2: Price
- 2.2.3: Promotion
- 2.2.4: Place
- 2.2.5: Using the marketing mix to make business decisions
Topic 2.3: Making operational decisions
- 2.3.1: Business operations
- 2.3.2: Working with suppliers
- 2.3.3: Managing quality
- 2.3.4: The sales process
End of year test to reconsolidate 8 topics learned.
Topics covered in Year 11
In year 11 there is also a focus on exam strategies.
Topic 2.4: Making financial decisions
- 2.4.1: Business calculations
- 2.4.2: Understanding business performance
Topic 2.5: Making human resource decisions
- 2.5.1: Organisational structure
- 2.5.2: Effective recruitment
- 2.5.3: Effective training and development
- 2.5.4: Motivation
End of year test to reconsolidate both exam papers.
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