Queen Anne's School offers GCSE (Edexcel) and A Level Business Studies.
A Level Business Studies
Business plays a crucial role in our economy and society, providing us with wealth and affecting our quality of life. Innovation and the efficient management of resources, such as people and finance, are crucial for business success. This course explores the many factors and challenges facing commercial organisations and examines them in the context of real life business scenarios.
Students study leadership and management and in particular, how businesses develop strategies in relation to functional areas such as finance, operations, human resources and marketing.
Students will study leadership and management and in particular, how businesses develop strategies in relation to functional areas such as finance, operations, human resources and marketing. You will also learn to appreciate how important it is for businesses to analyse performance and to appreciate the wider external environment when drawing up future strategies. Business Studies is in many ways complementary to the study of economics, but tends to focus on the more detailed processes of what actual businesses do. The business environment, including the economy, is studied in detail. The skills required for success are very similar to those required in economics.
Aims
Our aim is to develop a spirit of enquiry that gives students the capacity to make critical judgments, as well as develop analytical and evaluative skills. We aim to develop a lifelong enthusiasm for the subject and for students to have high expectations of themselves. Through in-depth debating of current issues, case studies and visits, we aim to challenge and encourage our students to be strong and confident analytical thinkers.
Syllabus
The AQA specification is a two year course, divided into ten broad topic areas:
Year One
- Unit 1 - What is business?
- Unit 2 - Managers, leadership and decision-making
- Unit 3 - Decision making to improve marketing performance
- Unit 4 - Decision making to improve operational performance
- Unit 5 - Decision making to improve financial performance
- Unit 6 - Decision making to improve human resource performance
Year Two
- Unit 7 - Analysing the strategic position of a business
- Unit 8 - Choosing strategic direction
- Unit 9 - Strategic methods: how to pursue strategies
- Unit 10 - Managing strategic change
Examinations
There are three 2 hour examination papers that include multiple choice, short answer questions, data response, case study and essay questions. All three papers will draw on material from the whole course and each paper can test any of the topics learnt throughout the two year course.
