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Business Studies Department

Departmental Staff

  • Mrs M McKenna – Head of Department
  • Mrs C McMorrow
  • Mr F Quinn

Introduction

Why study Business Studies?

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

GCSE Business Communication Systems

Business & Communications Systems

 

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.

GCSE Business Studies

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.

GCE Business Studies

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.

BTEC Business

BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Business 

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%).

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