Business Studies
Why Business Studies?
Business Studies courses enable students to gain an insight into the world outside education.
Learning about the internal workings of a business and how different organizations adapt to meet challenges from the external environment can help students develop their own problem solving skills. Students enjoy exploring different businesses’ responses to their environment and the consequences that might occur.
Which specification is followed?
At GCSE level, business studies theory is combined with practical ICT skills in the Business and Communication Systems course. This allows students to improve their existing ICT skills in addition to learning about the world of work. This course is very popular, and students enjoy the mix of skills that they gain from it. Examination results are consistently excellent, demonstrating that this course is suitable for everyone. Students progress from this course to both Business Studies and ICT courses at A-level.
The A-level Business Studies course enables students to develop entrepreneurial skills; in the first year they study the fundamentals of setting up a small business with all the challenges that entails. During Upper 6 students have the opportunity to carry out some independent research into a board set topic which is relevant to current business activity. The nature of Business Studies assessment means that students are able to develop their powers of analysis and evaluation. These skills can be transferred across many other academic disciplines.
Students follow the AQA specifications for both GCSE Business and Communication Systems and A-level Business Studies.
Workshops, conferences and visits
- Extra study sessions are provided for students as required. These may be during lunchtime, after school or another time to suit both student and teacher.
- At GCSE level, students take part in the Young Direct Marketing Awards where they create a direct mailing campaign for a national charity. Girls from the school have been very successful in this competition, winning prizes for each of the last three consecutive years. The opportunity to meet real marketers at the awards ceremony in London makes this a valuable experience for students.
- In Sixth Form, all Lower 6 students are invited to form part of the school’s Young Enterprise team. This very popular venture allows girls who do not take the subject to continue with some practical business activity. Girls set up and run their own business; recent enterprises have included making and selling jewellery, bags and scarves. Although they are motivated by the profit they achieve from this activity, the girls benefit more from working as a team, and improving their organisational and communication skills, all of which are transferable to other areas of their study and life.
Degree and career choices
Students of Business Studies have gone on to take a wide variety of degrees in areas such as Marketing, Accounting and Management, in addition to general Business Studies courses. Popular university destinations currently include Manchester, Nottingham, and Newcastle. Inevitably some students taking this subject opt to enter employment. This subject prepares students well for either route into adult life.