Intent

• Know and understand business concepts, business terminology, business objectives, the integrated nature of business activity and the impact of business on individuals and wider society
• Apply knowledge and understanding to contemporary business issues and to different types and sizes of businesses in local, national and global contexts
• Develop as enterprising individuals with the ability to think commercially and creatively to demonstrate business acumen, and draw on evidence to make informed business decisions and solve business problems
• To equip students with the appropriate knowledge and skills needed to develop their employability and identify business problems and opportunities.

Implementation

• Detailed and thorough curriculum planning lies at the heart of what we do in the business department. We am committed to responsive teaching and medium and long-term development of business schemes of work.
• We use all available resources and teaching strategies to ensure that students have a comprehensive knowledge of the specifications and are capable of going beyond what is taught in lessons.
• Techniques to help develop long-term memory and help students master subject content are embedded in the curriculum.
• These are focussed on embedding challenge, metacognition, memory techniques, numeracy, and literacy into our departmental curriculum.
• We also implement our curriculum through using a variety of teaching strategies and kinaesthetic tasks as well as more traditional skills practice. I make full use of the Microsoft applications for education and all students use this to access the departmental resources both in lessons for coursework and remotely.

Impact

• We know our curriculum is working in the business studies department as coursework and external examination results are consistently in line with national average and working to exceed it from 2021.
• The quality of teaching and learning in Business has been praised during learning walks by both external and internal observers.
• The number of students choosing to study Post 16 Business are very high and a number of our students go on to study the subjects further at university.
• More importantly, students frequently express their enjoyment of Business, the quality of teaching they have received and their appreciation of the knowledge and study skills they have gained from the department.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Business

The Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Business is an Applied General qualification. It is for post-16 learners who want to continue their education through applied learning and who aim to progress to higher education and ultimately to employment in the business sector. The qualification is equivalent in size to one A Level and aims to provide a coherent introduction to study of the business sector. The course comprises 4 units of study. There are 3 mandatory units that learners must complete: 1 is internally assessed and 2 are externally assessed. Additionally, you will study one further module that your course tutors will select.

Unit 1: Exploring Business (mandatory) Controlled assessment (coursework)

In this unit students will gain an overview of the key ingredients for business success, how businesses are organised, how they communicate, the characteristics of the environment in which they operate, and how this shapes them and their activities. Students will also look at the importance of innovation and enterprise to the success and survival of businesses, with the associated risks and benefits.

Unit 2: Developing a Marketing Campaign (mandatory) This is an externally set case study assignment to be completed over 3 hours.

Marketing is a dynamic field central to the success of any business. Students will gain an understanding of how a marketing campaign is developed. Students will explore different stages of the process that a business goes through when developing its campaign and develop their own campaign for a given product/service. Students will examine the marketing aims and objectives for existing products/ services and understand the importance of relevant, valid and appropriate research in relation to customers’ needs and wants. Students will use given market research data and other information to make recommendations about the type of marketing campaign that a business should undertake. In this unit students will draw on their learning from across the programme to complete the assessment task.

Unit 3: Personal and Business Finance (mandatory) Written examination (2 hours)

This unit includes aspects of both personal and business finance. Personal finance involves the understanding of why money is important and how managing money can help prevent future financial difficulties. This unit will also give students an insight into where they can get financial advice and support. The business finance aspects of the unit introduces students to accounting terminology, the purpose and importance of business accounts and the different sources of finance available to businesses. Planning tools, such as cash flow forecasts and break-even, will be prepared and analysed. Measuring the financial performance of a business will require students to prepare and analyse statements of comprehensive income and statements of financial position. This unit will provide a foundation for a number of other finance and business units and will help students to analyse profitability, liquidity and business efficiency.

Unit 4: Recruitment and selection process. Optional unit chosen by course tutor. Controlled assessment (coursework)

This unit prepares students for the recruitment and selection process which all students will now doubt undergo at various times in their future careers. The unit explores how business recruit and select, looking at documents and processes undertaken. Students investigate how a real business recruits and selects staff and then build on this knowledge by planning and running the process themselves. This unit includes role play interviews and encourages students to reflect on their performance for their own future career paths.