Key Stage 4

Enterprise and Marketing (Cambridge National)

An aspiration for many young people is to be self-employed and start their own business. The skills required for this, such as being able to work collaboratively and creatively, solve problems and have awareness of businesses and customers, are also those requested by employers. This qualification is a vocationally driven equivalent to a traditional GCSE in Business but is equally valued by employers and further education providers due to its relevance to the ‘real world’.

When studying Enterprise and Marketing, students will not only develop skills, knowledge and understanding relevant to the world of business; they will also have the opportunity to apply their learning in a practical and realistic way. Each unit is designed to develop independent learning, decision making and enterprising skills which are highly valued and sought after by employers and further education providers.

The two centre-assessed units offer practical task-based assessment opportunities, alongside the examined unit which contains underpinning knowledge and understanding, resulting in a focused qualification that complements a Key Stage 4 study programme alongside other vocational qualifications and GCSEs.

Successful completion of the course will enable students to progress onto Level 3 study, an apprenticeship or the world of work.

GCSE Business (OCR)

Business encourages students to be inspired and challenged by a wide range of successful businesses and entrepreneurs. This course offers students a unique opportunity to discover the key principles behind starting up and running a business. In addition students will explore the ever changing external environments businesses are operating in.

GCSE Business enables learners to:

• Investigate and analyse real business opportunities and issues to develop depth and breadth of understanding of business.
• Develop an interest in business and entrepreneurial skills
• Make connections between theory and business contexts in the real world
• Develop and hone their decision making skills

The curriculum is split over two years and is sequenced to give learners the opportunity to develop an understanding of business fundamentals. In year 10, learners study:

• The influences on business activity
• Marketing
• People (Human resources)

In year 11:

• Operations management
• Finance
• External Influences
• Interdependence of business activity

Progression:

Successful completion of the course could see students move onto studying any of the social science subject: business, economics, law, psychology or sociology at A-level.