Business Studies

Business Studies Department

Business Studies is a dynamic, versatile and real-life subject and it provides students with a distinctive insight into the world of work. Fivemiletown College offers both GCSE Business and Communication Systems and BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Business. These two courses help students to engage actively in the study of business and digital technology in order to develop as effective and independent learners and critical and reflective thinkers with enquiring minds.

This knowledge, and the holistic understanding that develops, is invaluable to those students who are approaching or currently in the workplace. It offers an excellent foundation for those wishing to pursue careers in management, marketing, project management, business accounting, management consultancy, human resources, and business journalism as well as those interested in continuing on to further study.

GCSE Business and Communication Systems

Students who study GCSE Business and Communication Systems will follow the CCEA Specification.

Unit 1 – Software Applications for Business

Software applications play a vital role in business. They add value by increasing efficiency and they can reduce the amount of time tasks take and improve record keeping. They can also enhance the ways in which businesses communicate with their stakeholders. In this unit, students learn about relevant functions in software applications and develop their skills in using them in business contexts. When using software applications, students should be aware of standard ways of working and best practice approaches.

Software applications include Word processing software, Spreadsheet software, Database software, Presentation software, Web authoring software, Internet searching and Email software.

Unit 2 – The Business Environment

Students will gain a broad introduction to the business world. They learn about recruitment, selection, training and marketing as well as the implications of digital technology for business. These include: Types of business ownership, Stakeholders, Communication, Digital trading, Recruitment, Selection, Training, Implications of digital technology for business and customers, Marketing, Market Research and the Marketing mix.

Unit 3 – Developing Digital Solutions

Students use the skills they have developed in Units 1 and 2 to plan and develop a digital

solution for a business. This unit is synoptic; it tests students’ understanding of the connections between the different elements of the subject.

BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Business

Fivemiletown College offers BTEC Level 3 Business which 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. BTECs embody a fundamentally learner-centred approach to the curriculum, with a flexible, unit-based structure and knowledge applied in project-based assessments. They focus on the holistic development of the practical, interpersonal and thinking skills required to be able to succeed in employment and higher education.

Qualification structure

Mandatory units

There are three mandatory units, one internal and two external. Learners must complete and achieve at Near Pass grade or above in all mandatory external units and achieve a Pass or above in all mandatory internal units.

Optional units

Learners must complete at least 1 optional unit.

Unit 1 – Exploring Business – this unit is taken in year 1 of the course and is an internally assessed unit where students complete a portfolio looking into the actions of chosen businesses. Students study the purposes of different businesses, their structure, the effect of the external environment, and how they need to be dynamic and innovative to survive.

Unit 2 – Developing a Marketing Campaign – this unit is taken in year 1 and is externally assessed. This unit is assessed under supervised conditions. The Part A Research Pack is released to learners under low control conditions in the afternoon on the day before the Part B assessment, which will be sat in the morning session. Learners have access to Part A for a 2 hour preparation period with the Part B assessment being a 3 hour supervised session. The assessment is set and marked by Pearson.

Unit 3 – Personal and Business Finance – this unit is taken in year 2 and is externally assessed. This unit is assessed by a written examination set by Pearson. The examination will be two hours in length.

Unit 4 – Optional unit to be chosen by the teacher – this unit is internally assessed with students completing a portfolio in year 2 of the course.

Careers

Business Studies provides students with the opportunity to pursue a wide range of degree courses and careers. Some examples:

Accountancy

Finance

Banking

Insurance

Estate Management

Teaching

Marketing & Advertising,

Human Resource Management

Production Management

Civil Service,

NHS Management

Retail Management

Stock Broker

Business Information Systems

Financial Investment