Business & Economics
“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”
The above quote from Seneca’s writings is often used when mentoring people in business, and encapsulates the department’s philosophy when teaching Business and Economics.
We offer a creative and active learning environment which inspires each student to engage with the subject and to develop their own potential. Teachers support and extend students’ study skills, with a view to enhancing both their examination successes and their abilities to forge successful lives in the future.
The department offers a GCSE in Business at Key Stage 4, based on the Edexcel specification. For the Theme 1 paper, students are always fascinated and often surprised to learn about the risks and rewards of entrepreneurship, including start-up issues, for which we are able to draw on the direct experiences of some of our own alumni. In Form 5 the students prepare for their Theme 2 paper, studying the main components of larger businesses such as Marketing, Finance, Human Resources and Operations Management. Regular homework, support sessions and revision clinics are held throughout the year. All Form 4 students benefit from a lively, challenging Business EECA day in the Trinity Term.
In the Sixth Form, students have a chance to specialise by opting for the AQA Business course or choosing the Edexcel Economics A course. The department also offers the LIBF – Lessons In Financial Education at Level 2 in KS3 and the Level 3 Certificate in Financial Studies course to Lower Sixth Form students, as part of their enrichment programme. Each year, the students also have the opportunities to participate in the Tycoon Enterprise Challenge, and the College takes part in the ICAEW 6th form competitions.
Business: Senior
Business Course Description
GCSE 9-1 Business Pearson-Edexcel
Curriculum Overview
What will I learn?
- You’ll start by exploring the world of small businesses through the lens of an entrepreneur. How and why do business ideas come about? What makes a successful business?
- You’ll learn how to develop an idea, spot an opportunity and turn it into a successful business
- You will understand how to make a business effective, manage money and see how the world around us affects small businesses and all the people involved
- Next year you’ll move on to investigating business growth. How does a business develop beyond the start-up phase? You’ll learn about key business concepts and issues and decisions you need to make when growing a business and working in a global business
- You’ll learn about meeting customer needs, making marketing, operational, financial and human resourcing decisions and you’ll explore how the wider world impacts the business as it grows
What are the unique selling points of studying this subject at St Columba’s College?
Student View
“Business gives you the knowledge on accountancy, HR, operations and marketing. Studying business has given me a greater insight into the world of finance which has helped me find the courses I wish to study next as well as what career path to choose. It is a great essay subject that has helped my essays improve across all my subjects by making me think more creatively and in-depth which are skills that I have already been able to take out into the world outside of education”
– Jacob Business Student
How are the students assessed?
Linear Course 2 x 1h 45 min exams at the end of the 2 year course
Home Learning (how frequent, style, etc)
What will I do as homework?
2 set per week
You should be willing to spend another 45-60 minutes per week on independent activities to support your learning. This time could be spent:
- reading of texts as directed
- personal reading of the business and economic press (broadsheet newspapers/websites), educational magazines and books on the reading list
- watching relevant TV programmes/Youtube Business GCSE channels
- research for homework or to bring to class
- personal note-making/ learning for class tests/ file organisation
- research for in class group assignments and presentations
- using resources on Class notebook/ MS TEAMS and relevant websites
How can parents/guardians support their child’s learning?
Being upto date with World Business News, reading around the subject including BBC business news, Business Review, The Week, also Business related docu-series e.g. inside the factory
Useful Links (e.g. bbc bitesize, youtube, mymaths, educationquizzes..)
online channels @Bizconsesh @TakingTheBiz @tutor2U
