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Intent

Business Studies is the exploration into the mechanics of enterprise combining elements of study into business disciplines such as accountancy, finance, marketing, human resource management, and operations.  The curriculum overview is designed to give the student a vocational experience of the various elements of running a Small Medium Enterprise to a large international global organisation.

Students are expected to investigate and research the internal and external factors affecting businesses and will explore the importance of enterprise and entrepreneurship. Students will also research how businesses respond to changes in their economic, social and technological environment; and gain an appreciation of the influence different stakeholders can have upon a business. 

The curriculum is based on the belief that the Business qualifications offered at KS4 and KS5 will enable students to acquire the ‘soft skills’ that industry leaders look for in potential employees, skills that can not be learned in education alone.  Our aim is to ensure that students acquire the knowledge, understanding and skills that underpin the business sector that will prepare them for further study or training. 

The Academy is fortunate to be situated in the heart of economic activity with a plethora of enterprises situated within a short distance offering business talks, educational visits and work experience add value to their business education;  Coca Cola Enterprises, Amazon and Thames Water being amongst these.  Our curriculum will give students the opportunity to explore extra curricular Business activities to acquire business skills too such as the Young Enterprise Company Programme.

Students at Leigh UTC can opt to take Business Studies from year 10. From here they will follow a vocational pathway focused on enterprise and marketing to prepare them for future study. This pathway is designed to lead into KS5 and capitalises on the expertise of organisations such as Alton Towers and BT to make sure students develop the skills required by those wishing to work in this dynamic area. By integrating both traditional and new marketing techniques and media, this pathway highlights the importance of market research in creating a marketing strategy that can be delivered through co-ordinated, multi-channel marketing campaigns. This pathway will allow students to progress onto degree programmes such as Marketing or Business and Marketing. It will also allow them to choose a non-related degree programme. It also prepares them to take up employment in business where they could be employed in roles such as Marketing Administrator, Market Research Analyst, Digital Marketing Assistant or Public Relations Officer.

Implementation

The Business curriculum will provide opportunities to our students to advance into both higher education and/or areas of employment including roles in marketing, administration, finance, events management, HR, marketing and other related areas in the business sector, including higher apprenticeships.

In order to ensure that all students can make excellent progress, the course that students take at KS4 we offer BTEC Level 2 in Enterprise to those who prefer to work on a set of assignments for two components with a set exam at the end of the course for the third and final component.  In KS5 BTEC Level 3 Diploma comprising 5 coursework units, two controlled assessments and one exam over two years.

Students are regularly assessed through extended writing in tasks in lessons on a weekly basis. This is complemented by end of learning aim assessments every term. This allows teachers to measure progress of pupils accurately on a regular basis and put intervention in for those who need extra help.

Students are given regular feedback on controlled assessment projects at KS4 and KS5, this allows them to build confidence over time and be more proficient at producing high quality work as the course progresses.

Curriculum End Points

Year 13 BTEC Level 2 Diploma in Business

Unit 4: Managing an Event

Learners will work as part of a small group to plan, coordinate and manage a business or social enterprise event and evaluate the skills gained

Learning aims:

  • A – Explore the role of an event organiser 
  • B – Investigate the feasibility of a proposed event 
  • C – Develop a detailed plan for a business or social enterprise event 
  • D – Stage and manage a business or social enterprise event 
  • E – Reflect on the running of the event and evaluate own skills development

Unit 5: International Business

Learners study how UK businesses develop strategies to trade globally. Learners will also consider the factors that influence the implementation of these strategies

Learning aims:

  • A – Explore the international context for business operations 
  • B – Investigate the international economic environment in which business operates 
  • C – Investigate the external factors that influence international businesses 
  • D – Investigate the cultural factors that influence international businesses 
  • E – Examine the strategic and operational approaches to developing international trade.

Unit 6: Principles of Management

This unit enables learners to understand how the role of management and leadership in the workplace contributes towards business success.

Assessment outcomes:

  • AO1 – Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of management and leadership principles, concepts, key terms, functions and theories
  • AO2 – Apply knowledge and understanding of management and leadership issues to real-life business scenarios 
  • AO3 – Analyse and evaluate management information and data, demonstrating the ability to interpret the potential impact and influence on business effectiveness in context 
  • AO4 – Be able to recommend management and leadership proposals in context with appropriate justification, using a range of evidence to support arguments

Unit 27: Work Experience in Business

Learners study the benefits of work experience in business. They reflect on their practical workplace skills by completing forty hours of appropriate work experience.

Learning aims: 

  • A – Investigate opportunities for work-related learning 
  • B – Carry out work experience in an appropriate and safe manner 
  • C – Reflect on work experience undertaken and its influence on own personal and professional development.

Year 13 BTEC Level 2 Diploma in Business

Unit 1: Exploring Business

In this introductory unit, learners study the purposes of different businesses, their structure, the effect of the external environment, and how they need to be dynamic and innovative to survive.

Learning aims:

  • A – Explore the features of different businesses and analyse what makes them successful
  • B – Investigate how businesses are organised
  • C – Examine the environment in which businesses operate
  • D – Examine business markets
  • E – Investigate the role and contribution of innovation and enterprise to business success.

Unit 2: Developing a Marketing Campaign

Learners will gain skills relating to, and an understanding of, how a marketing campaign is developed.

Assessment outcomes:

  • AO1 – Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of marketing principles, concepts, processes, key terms, data sources and definitions
  • AO2 – Analyse marketing information and data, demonstrating the ability to interpret the potential impact and influence on marketing campaigns
  • AO3 – Evaluate evidence to make informed judgements about how a marketing campaign should be planned, developed and adapted in light of changing circumstances
  • AO4 – Be able to develop a marketing campaign with appropriate justification, synthesising ideas and evidence from several sources to support arguments

Unit 3: Personal and Business Finance

Learners study the purpose and importance of personal and business finance. They will develop the skills and knowledge needed to understand, analyse and prepare financial information.

Assessment outcomes:

  • AO1 – Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of business and personal finance principles, concepts, key terms, functions and theories.
  • AO2 – Apply knowledge and understanding of financial issues and accounting processes to real-life business and personal scenarios
  • AO3 – Analyse business and personal financial information and data, demonstrating the ability to interpret the potential impact and outcome in context
  • AO4 – Evaluate how financial information and data can be used, and interrelate, in order to justify conclusions related to business and personal finance

Unit 8: Recruitment and Selection Process

Learners explore how the recruitment process is carried out in a business. The unit gives learners the opportunity to participate in selection interviews and review their performance.

Learning aims: 

  • A – Examine how effective recruitment and selection contribute to business success.
  • B – Undertake a recruitment activity to demonstrate the processes leading to a successful job offer.
  • C – Reflect on the recruitment and selection process and your individual performance.

Year 11 BTEC Tech 1/2 Award in Enterprise

 Component 3: Marketing and Finance for Enterprise

Learners will explore how marketing is used by enterprises and the factors that influence how enterprises identify and target their market. Learners will complete financial documents and statements and explore how to use them to monitor and improve the performance of an enterprise in order to make decisions and recommend strategies for success. 

Learning aims:

  • A – Understand Marketing activities
  • B – Review and complete Financial documents and statements
  • C – Analyse and evaluate Financial planning and forecasting

Curriculum Overview

Component 1: Exploring Enterprises

  • Planning and Presenting a Micro-Enterprise Idea
  • 6 hours of monitored preparation
  • 7 hour NEA Controlled Assessment Exam

Component 1: Exploring Enterprises

A: Marketing activities

  • A1 – Targeting and segmenting the market
  • A2 – 4Ps of the marketing mix
  • A3 – Factors influencing the choice of marketing methods
  • A4 – Trust, reputation and loyalty

Component 1: Pearson Set Assignment (Exploring Enterprises)

B: Financial documents and statements

  • B1 – Financial documents
  • B2 – Payment methods
  • B3 – Revenue and costs
  • B4 – Financial statements
  • B5 – Profitability and liquidity

Component 2: Planning and Presenting a Micro-Enterprise Idea

C: Financial planning and forecasting

  • C1 – Budgeting
  • C2 – Cash flow
  • C3 – Suggesting 
  • C4 – Break-even point and break-even analysis
  • C5 – Sources of business finance
  • Resits of Component 1 PSA if need be

Component 3: Marketing and Finance for Enterprise (exam)

Exam date – 7th May 2023 (AM)

Year 11 BTEC Tech 1/2 Award in Enterprise

Component 1: Exploring Enterprises

Learners will explore different enterprises to develop their knowledge and understanding of the characteristics of enterprises and the skills needed by entrepreneurs to be successful. Learners will explore how enterprises use market research to find out about their customer needs and competitor behaviour and how internal and external factors may affect enterprises.

Learning outcomes:

  • A – Understand how and why enterprises and entrepreneurs are successful 
  • B – Understand customer needs and competitor behaviour through market research
  • C – Understand how the outcomes of situational analyses may affect enterprises.

Component 2: Planning and Presenting a Micro-Enterprise Idea

Learners will generate two realistic ideas for a micro-enterprise and choose one of these to plan within budget. They will individually present their business plan for their idea and review the production and delivery of their presentation to make recommendations for improvements. 

Learning aims:

  • A – Choose an idea and produce a plan for a micro-enterprise idea
  • B – Present a plan for the micro-enterprise idea to meet specific requirements
  • C – Review the presentation of the micro-enterprise idea to meet specific requirements

Curriculum Overview

Component 1: Exploring Enterprises

A: Understand how and why enterprises and entrepreneurs are successful

  • A1 – Size and features of SMEs
  • A2 – Sectors and business models in which enterprises operate
  • A3 – Aims and activities of enterprises
  • A4 – Skills and characteristics of entrepreneurs

B: Understand customer needs and competitor behaviour through market research

  • B1 – Market research methods
  • B2 – Understanding customer needs
  • B3 – Understanding competitor behaviour
  • B4 – Suitability of market research methods

Component 1: Exploring Enterprises

C: Understand how the outcomes of situational analyses may affect enterprises

  • C1 – PEST (Political, Economic, Social, Technological)
  • C2 – SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis

Component 1: Pearson Set Assignment (Exploring Enterprises)

  • 5 hours of monitored preparation
  • 6 hour NEA Controlled Assessment Exam

Component 2: Planning and Presenting a Micro-Enterprise Idea

A: Choose an idea and produce a plan for a micro- enterprise idea

  • A1 – Choosing ideas for a micro-enterprise
  • A2 – Plan for a micro-enterprise

Component 2: Planning and Presenting a Micro-Enterprise Idea

B: Present a plan for the micro-enterprise idea to meet specific requirements

  • B1 – Pitching a micro-enterprise activity
  • B2 – Presenting a business pitch

Component 2: Planning and Presenting a Micro-Enterprise Idea

C: Review the presentation of the micro-enterprise idea to meet specific requirements

  • C1 – Review of presentation