Curriculum Intention:

The curriculum intention is to give students an understanding and vocational experience of business. They get the opportunities to explore the internal and external environment of business, real marketing campaigns and how businesses use innovation and enterprise for success.

Learners are given the opportunity to do BTEC Business as it is a combination of external exams and internally assessed coursework which suits some learner needs. This is also suited for learners who want to do apprenticeships after leaving school.

Unit 1: Exploring Business

This introductory unit, learners 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. This is the first unit and is internal so learners 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. They also look at the importance of innovation and enterprise to the success and survival of businesses, with the associated risks and benefits.  Learners are introduced to this unit to develop their skills in report writing, research and referencing, ready for external assessments.

Unit 2: Developing a Marketing Campaign

Learners will gain skills relating to, and an understanding of, how a marketing campaign is developed. This unit is assessed under supervised conditions. Part A is released two weeks before Part B is scheduled for learners to carry out research. Learners will take Part B in a supervised assessment in a single three-hour session timetabled by Pearson. The assessment is set and marked by Pearson. The number of marks for the unit is 70. The assessment availability is twice a year in December/January and May/June.

Unit 3: Personal and Business Finance

Learners study the purpose and importance of personal and business finance. They will develop the skills and knowledge needed to understand, analyse and prepare financial information. This unit is assessed by a written examination set by Pearson. The examination will be two hours in length. The number of marks for the examination is 100. (Section A contains questions on the personal finance unit content and approximately one-third of the marks, and Section B contains questions on the business finance unit content and approximately two-thirds of the marks). The assessment availability is twice a year in January and May/June.

Unit 4: Managing an Event

Learners will work as part of a small group to plan, coordinate and manage a business or social enterprise event and evaluate the skills gained. Learners will investigate a number of successful events, both large and small, and use this research to assess the feasibility of events to plan and run. The chosen event will be carefully planned, demonstrating their ability to use planning tools. Students will then stage the event, testing the effectiveness of your planning. This will require students to ‘think on your feet’, deal with financial and security issues, liaise with suppliers and venue personnel, and utilise your problem-solving skills. Learners will evaluate the success of the event. This unit will develop teamwork, communication, time-management, negotiation and problem solving skills. It will help learners develop the essential transferable skills that employers look for. The unit will provide a useful opportunity to consider whether to pursue a career in events management or to continue on to further study in this area. This is an internally assessed unit.

Unit 6: Principles of Management

This unit enables learners to understand how the role of management and leadership in the workplace contributes towards business success. In this unit, learners will examine how businesses adapt their approaches to management in response to challenges in their environment. Depending on their roles and responsibilities, managers need to develop skill sets that enable them to work effectively in areas such as the management of people, financial, resource and quality management, and the management of change. Learners will investigate some of the issues that managers and leaders have to deal with in the workplace in making businesses more efficient and ensuring their survival and growth. The effective planning and organising of a business’s activity can significantly influence the success of a business. This unit is assessed under supervised conditions. Part A is released one week before Part B is scheduled for learners to prepare. Learners will take Part B in a supervised assessment in a single three-hour session timetabled by Pearson. The assessment is set and marked by Pearson. The number of marks for the unit is 88. The assessment availability is twice a year in December/January and May/June.

Unit 8: Recruitment and Selection Process

Learners explore how the recruitment process is carried out in a business. The unit gives learners the opportunity to participate in selection interviews and review their performance. This unit will give learners a foundation for progression to employment, for example in a human resources role, or to higher education. Through undertaking recruitment activities the unit will help learners to develop the skills needed in an interview situation. Learners also get an opportunity to review their individual performance and analyse their skills for development. This is an internally assessed unit.

Autumn

Spring

Summer

Unit 1: Assignment 1

Unit 1: Assignment 2

Unit 1: Assignment 3

Unit 2: Preparation for external assessment

Unit 4: Assignment 1

Unit 2: Preparation for external assessment

Half term

Half term

Half term

Unit 1: Assignment 3

Unit 2: Preparation for external assessment

Unit 4: Assignment 2

Unit 4: Assignment 3

Unit 3: Learning outcome A and B

Unit 8: Assignment 1

Christmas Holidays

Easter Holidays

Summer Holidays

Outcomes:

Learners get all grades from internal assessments at the end of each unit. They will receive the results from the external unit in August.  This will give learners their point scores to work out what they need to work towards for their overall grade in year 13.

Employability skills:

• cognitive and problem-solving skills: use critical thinking, approach non-routine problems applying expert and creative solutions, use systems and technology

• intrapersonal skills: communicating, working collaboratively, negotiating and influencing, self-presentation

• interpersonal skills: self-management, adaptability and resilience, self-monitoring and development. 

Curriculum Intention:

The curriculum is to develop students’ knowledge of finance, how international businesses operate and skills for customer service.

Unit 3: Personal and Business Finance

Learners study the purpose and importance of personal and business finance. They will develop the skills and knowledge needed to understand, analyse and prepare financial information. This unit is assessed by a written examination set by Pearson. The examination will be two hours in length. The number of marks for the examination is 100. (Section A contains questions on the personal finance unit content and approximately one-third of the marks, and Section B contains questions on the business finance unit content and approximately two-thirds of the marks). The assessment availability is twice a year in January and May/June.

Unit 5: International Business

Learners study how UK businesses develop strategies to trade globally. Learners will also consider the factors that influence the implementation of these strategies. In this unit, learners will explore the benefits and issues associated with international business activities. They will investigate the economic environment and cultural factors in international markets and the influence they have on how business is conducted and examine the strategic and operational approaches to developing business in an international context. To complete the assessment task within this unit, learners will need to draw on your learning from across your programme. This unit will give learners a greater understanding of the global business environment, which will help your career choices. The unit also gives students the skills and a firm basis to undertake advanced or specialist studies in international business at higher education level. This is an internally assessed unit.

Unit 14: Investigating Customer Service

Learners will study how excellent customer service contributes to business success. The unit gives learners the opportunity to develop their customer service skills. This unit will help students develop communication and interpersonal skills when dealing with customers, and to understand the importance of having good product or service knowledge. Learners will explore how a business builds effective relationships with customers through identifying and confirming the customer’s needs. Learners will examine how businesses monitor and evaluate their level of customer service provision through obtaining feedback and see how this helps inform improvements to the level of service provided.

Autumn

Spring

Summer

Unit 3 Learning outcomes A-F (Preparation for external examination in January)

Unit 8- Assignment 1

Unit 5 - Internal Assessment- Report- Learning Outcome A and B

Unit 14 - Internal Assessment- Report- Learning Outcome A and B

Unit 5- Internal Assessment- Report- Learning Outcome E

Half term

Half term

Half term

Unit 3 Learning outcomes A-F (Preparation for external examination in January)

Unit 5 - Internal Assessment- Report - Learning Outcome C and D

Unit 14 - Internal Assessment - Report- Learning Outcome C

Study Leave

Christmas Holidays

Easter Holidays

Summer Holidays

Outcomes:

Learners get all grades from internal assessments at the end of each unit. They will receive the results from the external units in March.  This will give learners their point scores to work out what they need to work towards for their overall grade in year 13 along with re-takes for May/ June.

Employability skills:

Unit 6 will help students to progress to employment, by considering a career working in supervision and management, and/or to vocational training.

Unit 14 will enable learners to evaluate their own customer service skills and to create a development plan for improvement. The unit also supports further training, study or employment in a business environment.