Business Studies
We aim to support students in developing their knowledge and understanding of business studies related topics which they can then use throughout their adult and working life. We aim to achieve this by:
• Ensuring that students leave Denefield with a set of transferable skills which can be used in the workplace.
• Encouraging our students to work to the best of their ability throughout their study of the subject to enable them to achieve the highest grade possible.
• Providing students with knowledge of a wide variety of subjects from accounting to economics which will enable them to go into the working world with an understanding of what is happening.
We also encourage students to continue their learning in Business Studies whether it is in the Sixth Form at Denefield, university or going into the workplace.
The Business Studies department offers a wide range of courses at both Key Stage 4 and Key Stage 5 with students being offered the opportunity to take courses which are exam based, coursework based or a mixture of the two.
Key Stage 4
Two courses are offered to students in Year 10 and Year 11.
GCSE Business Studies follows the traditional pattern of study of one piece of coursework and one final exam at the end of Year 11. The students study a wide variety of topics including business activity, production, marketing, human resources and finance. Students are encouraged to attend the Business Studies after school club once they have started coursework at the end of Year 10.
BTEC Business Studies allows students to study a vocational course which consists of six pieces of coursework. During the two year course students cover topics which include customer relations, finance, human resources, e-commerce and starting a business.
Students are given the opportunity to visit Thorpe Park at the end of Year 10 where they attend lectures on how the park uses marketing and human resources. The visit allows students to apply their existing knowledge to a well known business and to acquire new knowledge to help with their coursework.
Key Stage 5
Students have the opportunity to study four different courses in the Sixth Form within the Business Studies department.
BTEC Business Studies is a one year course which is equivalent to four GCSE passes and consists of 6 pieces of coursework. Students study topics which include exploring the purpose of businesses, people in organisations, finance, e-commerce, customer relations and starting a business. At the end of the one year course students are encouraged to start studying the A Level Applied Business Studies course.
A Level Business Studies consists of two units at AS Level and two units at A Level which are all examined. Students study a wide range of topics including finance, marketing, human resources and production with each unit focusing on a different stage of the business from start up to going global.
A Level Applied Business Studies offers students the opportunity to study a course which consists of two pieces of coursework and one exam at AS Level and two pieces of coursework and one exam at A Level. The students study a wide range of topics including people in organisations, exploring the aims and objectives of a business, finance, business planning, marketing and human resources.
A Level Economics consists of two exams at AS Level and two exams at A2 Level. The course covers a range of topics focusing on markets, the national and international economy, the global economy and work and leisure.
Students are offered two study visits during their time in the Sixth Form. The first is to Belgium where they get the opportunity to experience at first hand businesses in another European country. The second visit is to the ‘Business and ICT Live!’ Conference, held in Disneyland, Paris, where students attend a number of lectures led by guest speakers from major European companies.