Business Studies
|
Staff Name |
Role |
Email Address |
|
Mr A Liaqat |
Assistant Headteacher/Curriculum Leader for Business Studies |
a.liaqat@lhea.org.uk |
|
Ms A Parke |
Head of Year 11/Business Studies Teacher |
a.parke@lhea.org.uk |
KS4 Exam Board: Edexcel
At Lynch Hill Enterprise Academy, Business Studies is important because:
Business Studies lessons concentrate on putting the theory into practice by encouraging students to explore their own enterprising ideas and to develop as effective and independent students, becoming critical and reflective thinkers with enquiring minds. Problem-solving and decision-making skills relevant to business are focused on in each lesson.
Business Studies lessons explore a range of topics such as how to adopt an enterprising approach to running small businesses, how to gain experience and confidence in entrepreneurship, how to handle financial affairs, how to develop different marketing strategies and an exploration of human resources. A keen interest in current affairs is desirable which will bring knowledge of real- life issues to the fore in classroom discussions.
Curriculum
Year 10 students study Theme 1: Investigating small business
Students learn the basic concept on how a business is developed from the initial idea stage and the process required to launch the product in to the market.
Year 11 students study Theme 2: Building a business
Students learn how to grow a business that has been established. They are now expected to use their business analytical thinking to make calculated business decisions.
Assessment
Students complete one assessment every half term. This assessment focuses on what the students have learnt and how the knowledge is applied/analysed/evaluated. Students then spend a lesson recapping through ‘DIRT’ time that goes back and reflects on what they need to improve on using SIR marking sheet. Students also stick in ‘topic overview sheets that give them an overview of the topic: Students then go back and review these key points to see how well they think they’ve learnt them at the end.
We use a range of AFL and ATL activities in lessons. These range from questioning to written work and allow us to monitor how well the students have learnt/understand a key piece of information within the lesson.
GCSE Assessment
Edexcel Business Studies consists of two externally assessed exam papers each worth 50%.
Paper 1: Investigating small businesses
Paper 2: Building a business
Business Studies is a well-constructed, thoughtfully taught subject which has historically led to above average GCSE results.
Quality Assurance within the department ensures that the intended curriculum plans are delivered appropriately.
There is a planned programme for monitoring and reflecting on provision, including:
· Cooperative planning meetings
· Fortnightly meeting with SLT line manager
· Termly work scrutiny – to look at pupil books as a department and compare/monitor standards of pupil work
All of the above is designed to ensure there is no mismatch between the planned and delivered curriculum in lessons delivered by different members of staff. An element of curiosity and enjoyment is introduced from the very first Business lesson and continues throughout Key Stage 4, not only coming from the teaching staff but also from outside visits and visitors that are invited into school to present to pupils. These include a local leisure business and lawyers. Business Studies has been both a popular and successful GCSE at LHEA. Outcomes in Business have historically been excellent and well above the national average.
The majority of GCSE Business pupils go on to study Business related courses at the local colleges’ usually A ‘Level Business Studies, Economics or Accounting. Some go on to do Level 3 BTEC courses. A number have applied for Business related Apprenticeships. Informal feedback from pupils (from thank you cards and comments from parents at parents’ evenings) suggests that pupils enjoy the subject and value the knowledge and understanding they get from the course. After pupils have completed their Business Education, they leave LHEA much more informed about the world in which they live. They are able to offer better informed opinions on their future based on the development of their commercial minds and the enterprise capabilities they have developed.
Revision
All Business Studies lesson PowerPoints are uploaded on Microsoft Teams for students to access at home.
Useful Websites