Business and economics
Our Vision:
To help students understand and engage with the increasingly complex business world in which we live and to enable them to become informed and confident consumers, employees and entrepreneurs.
Statement of intent - Business
The Business department at Wyedean School aims to develop young business people and entrepreneurs. The courses at GCSE and A Level have developed a lot to include a wider understanding of the legal, political, social and environmental context of business. This external environment is rapidly changing and out intention is to develop students into informed and adaptable individuals, ready and to tackle the challenges ahead.
The specification we have chosen is aimed to give students the opportunity to explore real business issues and how businesses work. It has been designed with a clear and straightforward structure to enable students to access and engage with the world of business.
The specification for Business studies is broad but covers four main functional areas:
- Business in the real world
- Influences on business
- Business operations
- Human resources
- Marketing
- Finance
With a combination of independent research, teamwork, competition and presentation activities we hope to complement the employability skills that they are developing in other subject areas.
Statement of Intent Economics
The A-level Economics team at Wyedean School aims to develop enquiring minds and is a fantastic subject for those who are curious about what goes on around them. Economics is arguably the most powerful of the social sciences. Its principles provide students with unparalleled analytical tools to interpret the world around them and to shine a light on all of the great challenges that face humanity – how to grow economies, tackle unemployment, grapple with environmental issues, reduce crime and even understand demographic change.
We will explore economic issues such as inequality, immigration and how we should pay for healthcare. We will discuss the potential effects of current issues such as Brexit and how it affects not only our economy, but our daily lives and future opportunities.
We aim to develop essential skills such as analysing and interpreting data, building rational and logical arguments and making clear, convincing judgements. Economics combines both creativity and rational thought and students will confidently use a wide range of mathematical skills and balance these with strong communication skills, both written and verbal.
This blend of essential skills will not only enable Economics students to leave Wyedean prepared for success in a wide range of careers, but equip them with a lifelong thirst for knowledge and greater understanding of the world around them.
Our Students:
Our students are encouraged to be enquiring and engaged individuals who enjoy their learning. When they start their courses they will realise just how much they already know about business from their everyday lives. The vast majority perform to a high level and Business is frequently one of their highest grades. A large number continue to study Business in the Sixth form and then at university.
Key Stage 3 Assessment at Wyedean:
Although Business Studies is not available as a subject until Key Stage 4, students will experience the world of business and enterprise at several points during the first three years. The details of these vary from year to year, but past experiences and opportunities have included the following:
- The Real Game, which is a fantastic whole day project often run in Year 8.
- In Year 9 all students have experienced an exciting project running throughout the year, combining ICT, Business, Media and DT.
- Also in Year 9 one of the summer term flexible learning days has involved taking the year group to The Mall at Cribb’s Causeway to study a range of the businesses there.
Key Stage 4
Students learn in a variety of different ways and we try to accommodate this by offering two very different courses. GCSE Business Studies is now fully assessed through two end-of-course exams, whereas with the BTEC Tech Award in Enterprise, 60% of the final grade is achieved through coursework. This means that all of the students' hard work contributes to their final grade. The two courses link very closely to the level 3 courses that students can choose to follow in the Sixth form. Whilst studying Business at KS4 is not a requirement for studying at KS5, those who have will fully supported and prepared for the next step.
For an outline of the curriculum offered by our two courses, please see below:
GCSE Business
The exact order of delivery will depend upon staffing from year to year.
Year 10
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Term 1 |
Term 2 | Term 3 |
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Business in the Real World:
Influences on Business:
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Influences on Business:
Business Operations:
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Human Resources:
Preparation for end of year exam and links to work experience. |
For full details of the specification please click HERE
Year 11
| Term 1 | Term 2 | Term 3 |
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Marketing:
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Finance:
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Revision and preparation for the exams |
For full details of the specification please click HERE
BTEC Tech Award in Enterprise
In the first year we study and visit two contrasting businesses upon which the coursework assignments are based. Sections of theory are taught, followed by periods when the students are completing their coursework assignments.
Year 10
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Year 11
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For full details of the specification please click below HERE
Key Stage Five
We continue with the choice of exam-based or coursework-based courses that we offered at Key Stage 4. Students can choose between A-Level or BTEC courses, both equivalent in terms of UCAS university points, but assessed in very different ways. A large number of our students go on to study Business degrees as a result of their experience with our courses. In 2018 we extended our range of courses further, by offering A-level Economics for the first time.
Transition work A-level Business Studies 2020
Year 11 - 12 BTEC Business Transition Work
A-level Business
The exact order of delivery will depend upon staffing from year to year.
| Year 12 | Teacher 1 | Teacher 2 |
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| Year 13 | ||
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For full details of the specification please click below HERE
BTEC National Extended Certificate in Business
In the first year we study three businesses upon which the Unit 1 coursework assignments are based. Sections of theory are taught, followed by periods when the students are completing their coursework assignments. We also prepare students for the Unit 2 external assessment after Easter. In Year 13, we prepare for the Unit 3 Finance exam in January, followed by a further coursework unit.
Year 12
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Year 13
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coursework. The majority of students choose to submit their assignment before the deadlines and complete their course before Easter. |
For full details of the specification please click HERE
A-level Economics
As this is a new course for the team and for Wyedean, the order of delivery may change in future, but this is an outline of the curriculum.
The course content is split into four themes, as shown below. This is assessed at the end of the course through the three exam papers.
In Year 12:
Theme 1 will be delivered by the two teachers between September and February, with an assessment in the January mock exam period.
Theme 2 will be delivered from March until June, with a further mock towards the end of June.
In Year 13:
Themes 3 and 4 will be taught separately by the two teachers, from September until March, following which an intensive period of revision and exam practice will prepare students for the three papers. Mock exams will take place each term, supplemented by regular, end of unit assessments.
Transition work for A-level Economics 2020
Introduction to Macroeconomics
For full details of the specification please click HERE
