BUSINESS STUDIES - A LEVEL |
| ü | INDUCTION |
Business Studies involves an in-depth study of the business community and the economic environment in which organisations exist. The study of the subject provides an explanation of the complicated world of work that will shortly face all prospective 'A' Level students. The student is carefully introduced to the demands of sixth form study. The importance of course notes and working with real-life business case studies is explained. Progress is continually monitored throughout the two years of the course. |
| ü | SYLLABUS |
The subject looks closely at all aspects of business life. After studying the subject the student will be able to answer questions about: why firms have particular structures; why they make the production, marketing, pricing and distribution decisions that are important for their survival and suggest reasons for the other many trading decisions that they make. Students will also develop an understanding of the complicated accounting systems used by firms and they will be able to use published accounts to examine how effectively each firm has succeeded in its profit-making and other business aims. Industrial relations and problems concerned with employing people to work in business are also examined in detail. The role of the government in running the economy and exerting an influence over the daily life of business will be examined carefully. In particular, the European dimension of government policy will be stressed; e.g. the U.K.'s position in the European Community, the Balance of Payments and International Trade. |
| ü | STUDY SKILLS |
It is not necessary to have studied the subject at GCSE Level, although information picked up at the lower level will be particularly helpful in class discussions. Able students can easily cope with the demands of the subject. The Sixth Former must be able to cope with the demands of self-reliant study. He needs to have enough self-discipline to be capable of working to Modular deadlines in January and June of the final year of study. |
| ü | METHODS OF ASSESSMENT |
All students take a final exam in this subject (there is no coursework). Assessment is through a Modular route, where the course is studied in 5 blocks - 3 optional blocks can be taken in January or June of the final year but 2 main blocks must be taken in the June of the final year of study. |
| ü | CAREER IMPLICATIONS |
Business Studies is a subject that will prove particularly useful in many varied careers. Commerce, politics, banking, insurance, computing, journalism, management and politics are just a few of the many careers that appreciate some form of understanding of the working of the complicated business world. Business Studies also provides a student with knowledge that can easily be applied in other subject areas and can also be combined with other degree courses in Languages, Arts and the Sciences |