Key Stage 4 (GCSE)
A GCSE in Business is offered to students in Key Stage 4. The qualification is Edexcel’s GCSE in Business (1BS0) and comprises two examination papers, both of which are taken at the end of year 11. Business covers two major themes; Theme 1 looks at ‘Investigating Small Business’ and ‘Building a Business’ is studied in Theme 2.
Theme 1 concentrates on the key business concepts, issues and skills involved in starting and running a small business. Students study the following topics; business operations, finance, marketing and human resources.
These are developed further in Theme 2 when students look at how a business develops beyond the start-up phase and at the business concepts, issues and decisions used to grow a business. The impact of the wider world on the decisions a business makes as it grows are also considered.
Students will need to be able to apply a range of quantitative skills relevant to business context.
Assessment
Theme 1: Investigating Small Business – 1 hour 30 minutes (50%). This paper will comprise of a combination of multiple-choice, short- and extended-answer questions.
Theme 2: Building a Business – 1 hour 30 minutes (50%). This paper will comprise of a combination of multiple-choice, short- and extended-answer questions.
This is a new subject area of study for students in Key Stage 4 and they need to be aware of the steep learning curve required to learn new concepts and terminology.
All students should be following the latest business news on a weekly basis and apply their learning to these news stories.