Course Description

What is Business?

• Managing marketing and finance
• Managing operations and people
• Business and society
• Business and the external environment
• Business strategy

Contact:	Mrs H Thompson	Exam Board:	AQA
QAN:	TBC	Subject Code:	Bs

The Course

Students will study business in a variety of contexts (e.g. large/small, UK focused/global, service/manufacturing) and consider:

• the importance of the context of business in relation to decision-making
• the interrelated nature of business activities and how they affect competitiveness
• the competitive environment and the markets in which businesses operate
• the influences on functional decisions and plans including ethical and environmental issues
• the factors that might determine whether a decision is successful eg the quality of data and the degree of uncertainty
• how technology is changing the way decisions are made and how businesses operate and compete
• the impact on stakeholders of business decisions and their response to such decisions
•  use of non-quantitative and quantitative data in decision-making (including the interpretation of index numbers and calculations such as ratios and percentages)
• the influences of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), Corporate Social Responsibility, ethical and environmental issues on strategic decisions
• the impact of technological change on strategic decision-making
• the actions of stakeholders and the impact of those actions on strategic decisions
• the difficulties in forecasting future trends
• the importance of assessing feasibility and risk when making strategic decisions

Possible SUbject Combinations

Any other subject. Students not studying Maths A Level, may wish to choose Core Maths as an AS to support this subject.

What do the students say?

“This course ultimately opens you up to the ‘business world’ and gives you key knowledge and skills that you’ll utilise in the future, no matter what job you’re in.”

Where can Business A Level take me?

A Level entry to Banking, Retailing and Human Resource Management, Business Management and Hospitality, Accountancy, including Apprenticeships. Progression to Higher Education degree courses in Business, Finance and Management.

Which one should I take: Business or Economics?

From our experience, practical / hands on students are probably more suited for Business, where as pure academics prefer the theoretical aspects of Economics. It is recommended that you discuss your choice beforehand with a member of the Business Department teaching team. beforehand as some (mainly the top ones) do not recognise them as two separate subjects.

Assessment