Business & Economics
Business and Economics are very popular options amongst our students.
In Business Studies students develop understanding of business activities in the public and private sectors and the importance of innovation and change. Learners find out how the major types of business organisations are established, financed and run and how their activities are regulated. Factors influencing business decision-making are also considered, as are the essential values of cooperation and interdependence.
Learners not only study business concepts and techniques but also enhance related skills such as application, analysis and evaluation as well developing personal competences.
Through the GCSE, AS and A Level Economics, learners study how to explain and analyse economic issues and arguments, evaluate economic information, and organise, present and communicate ideas and judgments clearly.
The course covers a range of basic economic ideas, including an introduction to the price system and government intervention, international trade and exchange rates, the measurement of employment and inflation, and the causes and consequences of poverty and inequality.
Learners also study the price system, the theory of the firm, market failure, macroeconomic theory and policy, and economic growth and development.
KEY STAGE 4
GCSE Business – AQA 8132
2 written exam papers – 1h 45mins - No coursework
Where to find / purchase revision guidelines / books
- Text books. (Hodder Education) AQA GCSE Business – by Surridge & Gillespie
- Revision book CGP – AQA GCSE Business revision guide
Useful websites
Seneca learning
https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/business/gcse/business-8132/
GCSE Economics – OCR J205
2 written exam papers – 1h 30mins - No coursework
Where to find / purchase revision guidelines / books
- Text book – (Hodder education) OCR Economics GCSE – by Bancroft, Riches, Miles-Kingston
- Revision guide - My Revision Notes: OCR GCSE (9-1) Economics, Miles-Kingston & RIches
Useful websites
https://ocr.org.uk/qualifications/gcse/economics-j205-from-2017/
KEY STAGE 5
Year 1
What is business?
Managers, Leaders and Decision Making
Decision making to improve:
• Marketing Performance
• Operational Performance
• Financial Performance
• Human Resources Performance
Year 2
Analysing the strategic position of a business
• Choosing strategic direction
• Strategic methods
• Managing Strategic change
Economics A-level
Subject content
- Individuals, firms, markets and market failure
- Economic methodology and the economic problem
- Individual economic decision making
- Price determination in a competitive market
- Production, costs and revenue
- Perfect competition, imperfectly competitive markets and monopoly
- The labour market
- The distribution of income and wealth: poverty and inequality
- The market mechanism, market failure and government intervention in markets
- The national and international economy
- The measurement of macroeconomic performance
- How the macroeconomy works : the circular flow of income, AD/AS analysis, and related concepts
- Economic performance
- Financial markets and monetary policy
- Fiscal policy and supply-side policies
- The international economy
RECOMMENDED READING
GCSE Business
- Business Adventures by John Brooks
- The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham
- The Innovator's Dilemma: The Revolutionary Book That Will Change the Way You Do
- Business" by Clayton M. Christensen
- The Lean Startup" by Eric Ries
- A Level Business
- In search of Excellence: Lessons from America's Best-Run Companies by Thomas Peters
- and Robert H. Waterman
- Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies by Jim Collins and Jerry I Porras
- Den of Thieves by James B. Stewart
- First, Break All The Rules: What the World's Greatest Managers Do Differently by Jim
- Harter
- The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
- GCSE Economics
- The Black Swan - Nassim Nicholas Taleb
- Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything
- The Armchair Economist: Economics & Everyday Life Reissue by Steven E. Landsburg
- A Level Economics
- The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith
- Ascent of Money
- Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything
- Too Big to Fail by Andrew Ross Sorkin
