Business Studies - KS4

10

What students will learn

How it builds on learning

Term 1: the first topic will focus on business in the real world. This will include learning about the purpose of business activity, the role of business enterprise and entrepreneurship, and the dynamic nature of business.

Students will be aware of the impact real word business has on the four functional areas of business: business operations, human resources, marketing, and finance.

Key topics taught:

1.1   Purpose and nature of business

1.2   Business ownership

1.3   Setting aims and objectives

1.4   Stakeholders

1.5   Business location

1.6   Business planning

1.7   Expanding a business

This topic will build on prior learning from PSHE and careers education. New ideas and content will also be introduced, focusing on business in the real world.

Students will learn about how business context influences what is right for a business.

Basic business calculations such as revenue, costs, and profit will be introduced. Students will also calculate percentages and percentage changes. These skills will develop on prior learning from mathematics.

Term 2: the second topic will focus on influences on business. This will include learning about the importance of external influences on business and how businesses change in response to these influences.

Students need to be aware of the impact of these influences on the four functional areas of business: business operations, human resources, marketing, and finance.

Key topics taught:

2.1 Influences on business technology

2.2 Ethical and environmental considerations

2.3 The economic climate on businesses

2.4 Globalisation

2.5 Legislation

2.6 Competitive environment

Students will build on learning from the first topic. They will explore how businesses can be influenced by the external environment and how this impact varies depend on the purpose, nature, and type of business.

Functional areas knowledge will also be built upon, with the students developing their understanding of these areas within a business and how they are influenced.

Term 3: the third topic will focus on human resources. This will include the purpose of human resources, its role within business, and how it influences business activity.

Skills developed include interpretation of HR data using business case studies, with written analysis and evaluation.

Key topics taught:

4.1 Organisational structures

4.2 Recruitment and selection of employees

4.3 Motivating employees

4.4 Training

This topic will continue to build on the students’ understanding of business in the real world and the different types of business. For example, how the aims and objectives of a business are linked to the type of organisation structure that a business chooses to adopt. Also, how human resources has an impact on the costs incurred by a business.

11

What students will learn

How it builds on learning

The first topic in Year 11 will focus on business operations. This will include learning about what business operations involve, their role within the production of goods and the provision of services, and how they influence business activity.

Key topics taught:

3.1 Production processes

3.2 The role of procurement

3.3 The concept of quality

3.4 Good customer services

Students will continue to make links with the interdependent nature of business. This will include how business operations are linked to the other functional areas as well as the external influences that can impact on a business.

Links with the units taught in Year 10 will also be made especially when looking at answering exam style questions in context.

Analysis and evaluation skills will continue to be developed.

The second topic in Year 11 will focus on marketing. This will include understanding the purpose of marketing, its role within business and how it influences business activity. Skills include interpretation of marketing data, including primary market research, secondary market research, analysing and evaluating a business's marketing strategy.

Key topics taught:

5.1 Identifying and understanding customers

5.2 Segmentation

5.3 The purpose and methods of market research

5.4 The marketing mix

Links will be made with prior learning to enable students to understand the interdependent nature of business. For example, how the marketing strategy adopted by a business will be influenced by the nature of the business, its size, as well as its aims and objectives.

The final topic will focus on finance. This will include understanding and explaining the purpose of the finance function, its role within business and how it influences business activity.

Students will also learn how to interpret and analyse financial forecasts and statements such as break-even analysis, cash flow forecasts, income statements and statements of financial position.

Key topics taught:

6.1 Sources of finance

6.2 Cash flow

6.3 Financial terms and calculations

6.4 Analysing the financial performance of a business

Basic business calculations were taught as part of the business in the real world topic in Year 10. This topic will deepen knowledge and understanding of business finance.

Analysis skills that have already been taught will enable students to interpret the financial performance of a given business.