Bangor Grammar School

Business Studies

 

Staff

Mr Sammy Sinclair

Ms Molly Hayes

Subject Overview

The Business Studies curriculum is intended to provide pupils with the business knowledge and skills required to become outstanding employees or employers. We help to develop the range of thinking and learning skills necessary for examination success, but we go beyond that. We want to create the innovators of the future, so we provide every pupil with the opportunity to take part in Young Enterprise learning projects in teams, which develop 21st Century employability skills.

Accommodation

The Business Studies department has 2 classrooms, both equipped with internet-connected desktop computers (23 computers in room U25, 14 computers in U26) . There is also a laser printer, IWB and traditional whiteboard, as well as a presenter iPad, Apple TV and data projector. Class sets of iPads are available for creative activities, such as Marketing projects.

There is also an entrance hallway with large whiteboards. These are occasionally used by pupils to brainstorm business project ideas as part of their Controlled Assessment assignments or Young Enterprise projects.

Achievements

As well as striving for excellence at AS and A2 level, appropriate time is given to enterprise and real-world business insight. A recent pupil won a Business Eye First Trust Award (BEFTA) in the “Future Star” category, whilst the A2 Business Studies class won the Business Simulator Challenge at Queen’s University Management School.

The Business Studies department staff work hard to ensure that all pupils build capacity and confidence. The vast majority of our sixth formers go on to study business-related disciplines at university.

Key Stage 3

At Key stage 3 pupils have always been given the opportunity to gain some insight into business and enterprise, through Young Enterprise one-day programmes such as Learn to Earn and Personal Economics. This allows them to sample some of the concepts and processes that they will encounter at GCSE.

In 2018-2019, we introduced a Year 10 ‘Taster’ course in Business Studies, which allows junior school pupils to get a more detailed sense of the subject before they make their GCSE choices. Since the launch of the taster course, the number of pupils taking the subject at GCSE has increased.

Key Stage 3

At Key stage 3 pupils have always been given the opportunity to gain some insight into business and enterprise, through Young Enterprise one-day programmes such as Learn to Earn and Personal Economics. This allows them to sample some of the concepts and processes that they will encounter at GCSE.

This year (2018-2019), we have introduced a Year 10 ‘Taster’ course in Business Studies, which allows junior school pupils to get a more detailed sense of the subject before they make their GCSE choices.

Key Stage 4

At GCSE, the course is divided into two units.

Unit 1: Business Start Up Unit 2: Business Development

The content of each unit is described in more detail below.

Unit 1: Business Start Up

  • Business Start Up
  • Production
  • Marketing

Unit 2: Business Development

  • Finance
  • Managing People
  • Business Growth
  • Business Plan

CCEA KS4 Specification (revised September 2017)

Key Stage 5

AS and A2 Level Business Studies allows pupils to further the skills and concepts learned at GCSE level. Pupils can develop and enhance their analytical and evaluative abilities by taking the AS course as the first half of the A2 Level qualification and completing two examination papers in the summer term of Year 13.

At A2 Level the course is split into two modules with an exam for each. Both examinations are of a stimulus-response format. As per AS level, these papers are undertaken in the summer term.

KS5 CCEA Specification (revised September 2016)

Career Opportunities

In the Business Studies department we have always sought to help our pupils obtain the subject knowledge and analytical skills needed for success at school, in tertiary education and in the workplace.

However, we are mindful of the challenges that the legacy of the 2008 economic crash has created for the global economy and more specifically, for the employment prospects of our pupils. We have sought to provide all of our pupils with the inspiration and skillset to become the innovators and wealth-creators of tomorrow. Whatever the economic climate, we want our pupils to be ready for not only the challenges of tertiary education, but to be able to access meaningful job opportunities. We aspire that they will quickly be able to add value at some of the world’s most innovative and exciting companies, so that they can enjoy meaningful and rewarding careers.

The multiple opportunities to be involved in mini enterprise at Bangor Grammar offer the chance to taste self-employment in a low risk atmosphere. Pupils have up to 4 distinct start-up projects to get involved in during their time here, so although the majority of our pupils go on to conventional career paths in salaried employment, we prepare and encourage all of them to at least consider becoming employers rather than employees.