Business Studies

KS4 Business Studies: Cambridge National in Enterprise & Marketing

Exam Board: OCR

This course combines theoretical enterprise and marketing learning with the practical application of knowledge to a business scenario. Students will learn how to create a new product and market it successfully before actually putting this into practice. Students will also learn how to confidently create a financially viable business proposal and pitch this to an external audience. Key transferable skills are embedded within the curriculum including research skills, collation and analysis of data, report writing and independent study skills to name a few. The two year course allows students to develop fundamental business knowledge that will underpin any future business studies learning, either via A-levels or on a vocational course. 

Course Aims

The world of business is ever evolving and this course will equip you with the knowledge and skills to start your own enterprise or be successful in the world of commerce. Not only will you learn how to start an enterprise and market it successfully, but you will also develop key employability skills such as communication, teamwork, research and presentation skills through the practical elements of the business course.

Course Content

You will study the following three units:

  1. Enterprise and marketing concepts

    This covers the main activities needed to support a start-up business. You will also learn how to attract and retain customers, the techniques to use when developing products and how to investigate what makes a product viable.

  2. Design a business proposal

    You will design a product proposal to meet a business challenge scenario. You will identify a customer profile for your product design, develop market research tools and use these to complete market research for your product.

  3. Market and pitch a business proposal

    You will create a brand identity and promotional plan for your product as well as pitch your product proposal to an external audience.

Year 10

Two out of the three units of the course are covered in Year 10. Exam content (RO64) is mapped against the coursework elements (RO65) so that students will learn the theory and then have the opportunity to apply this knowledge first hand to the business proposal before moving on to the next topic. Therefore units RO64 and RO65 are delivered simultaneously. Throughout the year learners will understand the main activities that need to happen to support a start-up business and what the key factors are to consider when starting up a business. They will then develop the skills to design a business proposal to meet a specific business challenge. They will identify a customer profile for a specific product, complete market research to generate product design ideas and use financial calculations to propose a pricing strategy and determine the viability of their product proposal. 

Year 11

RO66 (the second coursework unit) is covered in the second year of the course as this requires RO65 to be completed beforehand. Before this starts, the autumn term will be dedicated to revision for the January exam and then RO66 is completed ready for a May submission. This unit will provide students with the skills and knowledge to create a brand identity and promotional plan for their product proposal, developed in Year 10. They will be able to pitch their product proposal to an external audience, after completing a practice pitch, and complete a review of both their pitching skills and product proposal, using their learning from this qualification, self-assessment and feedback. By completing this unit, students will know how to use a combination of branding and promotional methods that complement each other and appeal to a specific customer profile. They will gain the crucial skills of professionally pitching to an unknown audience. This will help to prepare them both for employment situations such as interviews and for starting up a business in the future, while also developing the transferable skill of presenting information to others in a clear and persuasive manner. 

Assessment

External assessment – RO64

  • Written exam - 1 hour 30 minutes - 80 marks

  • Set and marked by OCR

Internal assessment - RO65 and RO66

  • Each unit is worth 60 marks

  • Portfolios of work which address the OCR set assignments

  • Internally marked and externally moderated by OCR

You will learn business theory and also develop skills in researching information and presenting in a variety of different formats, from written reports to oral presentations

Progression from the course

This course provides a strong base to study business, enterprise or marketing post-16 at A-level or another Level 3 qualification. It also helps to provide the transferable skills required to secure an apprenticeship.

 

A-Level Business Studies

Examination Board: AQA

Intent

Course summary

A-level business studies aims to equip students with a critical understanding of organisations, the markets they serve and the strategies they use to compete in the UK and in the global economy. The first year of the course provides students with detailed exploration of functional decision making in a dynamic external environment before moving on to look at strategic decisions and organizational change in the second year. The course is designed to encourage students to engage with real world examples to bring the concepts to life and embed learning within the world around them. The course involves rigorous analysis of the internal workings and management of businesses, and detailed exploration of business decision making in a dynamic external environment characterised by risk and uncertainty.

Candidates will undertake four units as outlined below

  1. What is business? 
  2. Managers, leadership and decision making
  3. Decision making to improve marketing performance
  4. Decision making to improve operational performance
  5. Decision making to improve financial performance
  6. Decision making to improve human resource performance
  7. Analysing the strategic position of a business
  8. Choosing strategic direction
  9. Strategic methods
  10. Managing strategic change

Assessment

Three two hour written examinations, each making up 33.3% of the A-level

Careers and Progression

Business studies helps you to develop a variety of employability skills such as effective communication, teamwork and critical thinking skills. Career opportunities include accounting, advertising, investment banking, corporate law, retail management, human resources, marketing, strategic buying to name a few. Business studies will provide you with the experience and skills to access good business apprenticeships as well as facilitating further study at degree level.

Entrance Requirements

Minimum requirement: 6 GCSEs Grades 9-4 (or equivalent), including English language and mathematics; Grade 5 business studies or Grade 5 English language if business not taken