Business Studies Department
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_tta_accordion active_section=”0″ collapsible_all=”true”][vc_tta_section i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-users” title=”Departmental Staff” tab_id=”1457694710050-d6d8093c-9215″ add_icon=”true”][vc_column_text]- Mrs M McKenna – Head of Department
- Mrs C McMorrow
- Mr F Quinn
Business and related subjects (such as the ‘FAME’ group – finance, accounting, management and economics) are among the most popular fields of study at universities worldwide, particularly at graduate level. You might have some vague ideas about why this is the case – business graduates are in high demand worldwide, business touches on pretty much every aspect of modern human society, careers with a business degree are diverse and often highly paid – and these assumptions are likely to be largely true …
Source: www.topuniversities.com/courses/business-management-studies/why-study-business
AIMS
Business Studies students will discover how businesses operate and will learn about their key functions. This knowledge is invaluable to those students who wish to pursue careers in a wide range of areas including management, marketing, human resources, project management, business accounting, management consultancy, and business journalism.
We offer a range of GCSE and GCE Specification:
- GCSE Business Studies;
- GCSE Business & Communication Systems;
- GCE Business Studies;
- BTEC Business
Business and Communication Systems is an exciting and practical subject that recognises how ICT is in the foreground of all business activities.
End of Year trip to We are Vertigo
Topics Covered:
In this course you will: study business activity and how ICT has changed the business environment. You will learn how to use different types of software applications.
These include: Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access & PowerPoint), Adobe Photoshop and Dreamweaver.
You will also study:
- Business Ownership
- Marketing
- Human Resources
Skills Developed:
Practical ICT skills, Communication, analyse, evaluate and make reasoned judgements and present conclusions, problem solving and working with others.
How you will be assessed:
| Unit 1:
Software Applications for Business |
Format: External assessed (computer based)
Date to be taken: Year 11 May/June Duration: 2 hours Weighting: 40% This examination will test your ICT skills in a business context. |
| Unit 2:
The Business Environment
|
Format: External assessed (written examination)
Date to be taken: Year 12 June Duration: 1 hour Weighting: 35% |
| Unit 3:
Developing Digital Solutions |
Format: Controlled Assessment
Submitted Term 1 of Year 12 Weighting: 25% For this unit, you will design a website and explain its business rationale through a PowerPoint presentation. |
Careers:
Business Studies can open up a wide range of opportunities for further and higher education or on to a rewarding career such as Accountancy, Law, Banking, Systems/Business Analysis, Management, Insurance, Media, Marketing, Human Resource Management, Investment, Teaching, ICT and Economics and/or self-employment in one’s own business enterprise. Many degree courses also contain a Business Module as a core element.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-gbp” title=”GCSE Business Studies” tab_id=”1457695212775-73da663b-f807″ add_icon=”true”][vc_column_text]Business Studies
This specification supports the aim of the Northern Ireland Curriculum to empower young people to achieve their potential and to make informed and responsible decisions throughout their lives, as well as its objectives:
- to develop the young person as an individual;
- to develop the young person as a contributor to society; and
- to develop the young person as a contributor to the economy and environment.
End of Year trip to Craigavon Water Sports
Skills Developed:
This specification gives students the opportunity to develop and generate evidence for assessing the following nationally recognised Key Skills: Application of number, communication, improving own learning and performance, information and communication technology, problem-solving; and working with others.
Assessment:
| Content | Assessment | Weighting |
| Unit 1
Starting a Business · Creating a business · Marketing · Business Operations |
External written examination
1 hour 30 mins Short structured questions and extended writing |
40% |
| Unit 2
Developing a Business · Human Resources · Business Growth · Finance |
External written examination
1 hour 30 mins Short structured questions and extended writing |
40% |
| Unit 3:
Planning a Business (synoptic) · Business Plan |
Controlled Assessment
Students complete the following: · Booklet A, a research task; and · Booklet B, a structured report-writing task. |
20% |
Career Opportunities:
Business Studies can open up a wide range of opportunities for further and higher education or on to a rewarding career such as Accountancy, Law, Banking, Systems/Business Analysis, Management, Insurance, Media, Marketing, Human Resource Management, Investment, Teaching, ICT and Economics and/or self-employment in one’s own business enterprise. Many degree courses also contain a Business Module as a core element.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-gbp” title=”GCE Business Studies” tab_id=”1457695395481-ed77628a-fa37″ add_icon=”true”][vc_column_text]GCE Business Studies
This qualification engages students in the study of a range of business topics impacting on today’s society. Students will take a holistic approach to studying the diverse nature of business organisations. The qualification is underpinned by 3 core business issues: globalisation, digital technology and stakeholder influence. The qualification will require students to develop decision marking skills and engage in critical thinking and analysis of core business functions, which will equip them for further study and employment in business-related areas.
Aims
The specification aims to encourage students to:
- Develop a lifelong interest in business;
- Gain a holistic understanding of business and the international marketplace;
- Develop a critical understanding of organisations and their relationship with key stakeholders;
- Evaluate the role of technology in business communication, business operation and decision-making;
- Generate enterprising and creative solutions to business problems and issues;
- Understand the ethical dilemmas and responsibilities faced by organisations and business decision markers;
- Develop advanced study skills that help them prepare for 3rd level education and
- Acquire a range of relevant business and generic skills including decision making, problem solving and interpretations of management information.
Assessment
| Unit | Content | Assessment | Weighting |
| AS 1 | Introduction to Business | External written paper 1.5 hours | 50%AS
20%A2 |
| AS 2 | Growing the Business | External written paper 1.5 hours | 50%AS
20%A2 |
| A2 1 | Strategic Decision Making | External written paper 2 hours | 30%A2 |
| A2 2 | The Competitive Business Environment | External written paper 2 hours | 30% A2 |
Career Opportunities
Business Studies can open up a wide range of opportunities for further and higher education and lead to a rewarding career such as accountancy or law, banking, city markets, systems/business analysts, insurance and the media. Actuarial Mathematics and Statistics, Biomedical Sciences, Finance, Quantity Surveying, Property Investment and Development or Management. It also assists students with a wide range of degree courses which may contain a business related module or you may of course decide to use the knowledge and skills gained through studying this course with a view to starting up your own business.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-clipboard” title=”BTEC Business ” tab_id=”1496753481778-f561b400-457c” add_icon=”true”][vc_column_text]BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Business ( starting September 2020)
Equivalent in size to one A Level.
The BTEC Level 3 Business Extended Certificate is for learners 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.
It is designed to be taken as part of a programme of study that includes other appropriate BTEC Nationals or A Levels.
BTEC Business provides transferable knowledge and skills that prepare learners for progression to university. The transferable skills that universities value include:
- the ability to learn independently
- the ability to research actively and methodically
- being able to give presentations and being active group members.
BTEC learners can also benefit from opportunities for deep learning where they are able to make connections among units and select areas of interest for detailed study. BTEC Nationals provide a vocational context in which learners can develop the knowledge and skills required for particular degree courses, including:
- effective writing
- analytical skills
- creative development
- preparation for assessment methods used in degrees.
Learners can focus on their career aspirations, or work area within the specification in which there are six specialist pathways consisting of Finance, Management, Marketing, Law, Administration, and Human Resources. At the same time this gives those who require more generic business knowledge the scope of units to do so.
| Unit | Unit size
(GLH) |
Extended Certificate
(360 GLH)
|
| 1 Exploring Business | 90 | M |
| 2 Developing a Marketing Campaign | 90 | M |
| 3 Personal & Business Finance | 120 | M |
| 8 Recruitment & Selection Process | 60 | O |
4 units of which 3 are mandatory and 2 are externally assessed examinations.
Mandatory content (83%).
External assessment (58%).[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
BTEC Business Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma (last sitting June 2020)
BTEC Business specification is designed to appeal to learners interested in a career in business or for those who want to widen their career opportunities.
This qualification has a total of six units; four core and two optional. The four core units gives learners an introduction to and understanding of the business environment, management of resources, marketing and communication – all of which are fundamental to the success of business organisations. The structure of the qualification allows for a great deal of choice and flexibility while providing opportunities for imaginative, innovative and creative planning and delivery. The specification also addresses sector needs and skills gaps such as in the finance, administration and management areas.
Skills
The specification comprises six groups of skills that, together with the Functional Skills of English, Mathematics and ICT, are essential to success in learning, life and work. Through the completion of BTEC Business students are provided with the opportunities to become confident and capable:
- Team workers;
- Self-managers;
- Independent enquirers;
- Reflective learners;
- Effective participators;
- Creative thinkers.
Learners can focus on their career aspirations, or work area within the specification in which there are six specialist pathways consisting of Finance, Management, Marketing, Law, Administration, and Human Resources. At the same time this gives those who require more generic business knowledge the scope of units to do so.
The Pearson BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma in Business is 60 credits:
| Unit | Mandatory Units | Credit | Assessment |
| 1 | The Business Environment | 10 | Portfolio |
| 2 | Business Resources | 10 | Portfolio |
| 3 | Introduction to Marketing | 10 | Portfolio |
| 4 | Business Communication | 10 | Portfolio |
| Unit | Optional Units (example only) | Credit | |
| 13 | Recruitment & Selection in Business | 10 | Portfolio |
| 27 | Understanding Health & Safety in Business Workplace | 10 | Portfolio |