Business Curriculum Overview
Curriculum Intent
Business at our school is built on the principle that every student should understand the world of work, enterprise and the economy, regardless of their future pathway. The curriculum is designed to help students make sense of how organisations operate, how decisions are made, and how individuals can influence and participate in the business environment.
Students develop strong knowledge of marketing, finance, human resources, operations and the external factors that affect businesses locally, nationally and globally. They learn to analyse real business issues, apply key concepts and use subject-specific vocabulary confidently. Through case studies and problem-solving tasks, students explore how theory connects to real-world practice.
Independence is developed through self-directed investigation, decision-making tasks and the analysis of financial and strategic information. Students learn how to interpret data, evaluate options and communicate reasoned arguments effectively. They are encouraged to think critically and reflect on how businesses respond to risk, opportunity and change.
Business education empowers students by equipping them with transferable life skills, including financial literacy, entrepreneurship, research, communication and leadership. They gain the confidence to form opinions, justify decisions and consider their role as future employees, employers or consumers.
The curriculum is inclusive and accessible to all learners. A wide range of businesses are explored, from small start-ups to global corporations. Teaching draws on diverse case studies and contexts, enabling every student to relate to the content and see themselves represented in the subject. Support and challenge are built in to ensure that all students can progress and achieve highly.
Key Stage 4 (GCSE Business)
Students follow the OCR GCSE specification. Across Years 10 and 11, they study the following topic areas:
Business Activity
- Enterprise and entrepreneurship
- Business ownership, aims and objectives
- Stakeholders and business growth
Marketing
- Market research and segmentation
- The marketing mix: product, price, promotion and place
People in Business
- Recruitment and selection
- Motivation and training
- Organisational structures, communication and employment law
Operations
- Production processes
- Quality, suppliers, customer service and consumer law
- Business location
Finance
- Sources of finance
- Revenue, costs, profit and break-even
- Cash flow
Influences on Business
- Ethical and environmental considerations
- Economic climate and globalisation
Interdependence
- How finance, marketing, operations and HR connect in decision-making
- Risk, reward and business performance
Assessment is through two written exams at the end of Year 11. Students apply their learning to case studies and real-world scenarios, demonstrating analysis, evaluation and decision-making skills.
Key Stage 5 (A Level Business)
At A Level, students deepen their understanding of strategic and operational decision-making through the following themes:
Year 12
What is Business?
- Managers, Leadership and Decision-Making
- Decision Making to Improve Marketing Performance
- Decision Making to Improve Operational Performance
- Decision Making to Improve Financial Performance
- Decision Making to Improve Human Resource Performance
Year 13
- Analysing the Strategic Position of a Business
- Choosing Strategic Direction
- Strategic Methods: How to Pursue Strategies
- Managing Strategic Change
Students analyse complex data, evaluate business strategies and apply models to real companies. Independence and critical thinking are developed through extended written responses and problem-solving tasks. The course prepares students for further study, apprenticeships and employment in a wide range of industries.
