KS4 - Business Studies

Curriculum Knowledge

Year 10

Students begin with the Business Activity unit which looks at business start-ups, enterprise, legal structures, growth and location. They then move on to looking at Marketing in terms of research, segmentation and the marketing mix followed by a detailed look at the Human Resources function within a business and how this aids recruitment, selection, structure and motivation.

Year 11

Students will study Business Operations which will cover methods of production, the importance of quality, the supply chain and customer service. This is followed by a detailed overview of Business Finances such as sources, profit and loss, cash flow, break-even and investment appraisal before moving on to look at the Influences on Business from the external environment.

Skill Development

Subject Specific Skills:

Numeracy – key formulas and concepts e.g. break-even; cash flow; ARR; profit; loss.
Numeracy – in context e.g. percentage changes in sales; calculating market share.
Selection of relevant information from case study material.
Application and understanding of specific key terms to the given context.

Wider Academic Skills / Attributes:

Evaluation – weighing up pros and cons and making reasoned judgements.
Analysis – being able to form logical chains of analysis/ reasoning.
Data interpretation from given evidence.
Numeracy skills.

Personal Development - SMSC & Cultural Capital (Opportunities / Experiences)

Understanding of how business contributes to society.
What businesses do and should do to limit their impact on the environment.
Ethics vs profit?
Social enterprises – how they help local and wider needs in society through business.
Engaging with local business entrepreneurs – giving students a wider look at different types of business entrepreneurs/ opportunities.
Through Travel and Tourism, students to visit and engage with places of interest in and around the area (e.g. Yorvik)
Link the Travel and Tourism course to the local industry in York.