Wilmington Grammar School for Girls Parsons Lane, Wilmington, Kent, DA2 7BB
01322 226351

BUSINESS STUDIES

BUSINESS STUDIES

Department Vision

Business activity is a feature of everyone’s life. As consumers, employees, savers and investors, people throughout the world engage in a web of business activities to design, produce, market, deliver and support a range of goods and services.

Students completing this course will develop general and specific skills including research, analysis, problem-solving, decision making, critical thinking and communication. These skills enhance your confidence and ability to participate effectively, not only as members of the business world, but as informed citizens dealing with issues emanating from business activity that impact on your lives.

Business Studies fosters intellectual, social and moral development by assisting students to think critically about the ethical responsibilities to society, as it provides useful knowledge and skills for life.

This is a wide ranging course containing a number of elements which are taught in modular form but which are also integrated through the use of case studies. Frequent reference is made to live business stories and the department makes extensive use of current affairs to support student learning. Students are taught business theory in order to solve business problems e.g. financing expansion abroad, strategies for cutting work forces etc.

Years 10 & 11

Year 10 

 Topic Learning Outcomes 
Term 1                  Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Why and how new business ideas come about? The impact of risk and reward on business activity The role and purpose of enterprise/entrepreneurship 
Term 2 Spotting a business opportunity Identifying and understanding customer needs. The purpose of market research/methods of market research How a business can use market segmentation Understanding the competitive environment 
Term 3 Putting a business idea into practice What business aims and objectives are? Understanding and using business calculations The importance of cash to a business Sources of finance for a start up business 
Term 4 Making the business effective Understanding the concept of limited liability Factors influencing business location What is the marketing mix and the importance of it to a business The role and importance of a business plan 
Term 5 Understanding external influences on business Who business stakeholders are and their different objectives Technology and business The purpose and impact of business legislation The impact of the economy on business The importance of external influences on business 
Term 6 Growing a business Methods of business growth Types of business ownership Sources of finance for a growing business Why aims and objectives change over time Impact of globalisation International trade Business ethics 

Year 11 

 Topic Learning Outcomes 
Term 1     Making marketing derisions Understanding the elements of the marketing mix Product (design mix, product life cycle) Price (Pricing strategies) Place (methods of distribution) Promotion (methods of promotion) How each element of the of the marketing mix can influence each other 
Term 2        Making operational decisions The purpose of business operations Understanding the differing production processes Impact of technology on production Managing stock The role of procurement The concepts of quality and its importance The sales process 
Term 3 Making financial decisions The concept and calculation of – gross, net profit Calculation and interpretation of – gross profit margin, net profit margin, average rate of return The use and limitation of financial data 
Term 4 Making human resource decisions Understanding differing organisational structures The importance of communication Different ways of working How business recruit How businesses train and develop employees The importance of motivation in the workplace 
Term 5 Revision and Exam Prep  Preparation for the 2 exams 
Term 6 Exam season   
Post 16 at WG6

Year 12 Theme 1

 Topic Learning Outcomes 
Term 1   Meeting customer needs The market: Market research Market positioning      Mass and niche markets Dynamic markets How competition affect the market The difference between risk and uncertainty  Product and market orientation Types of market research Limitations of market research   Market mapping Competitive advantage Product differentiation Adding value  
Term 2 Entrepreneurs and leaders     The market (economic concpets)  The role of an entrepreneur Characteristics and motives of an entrepreneur Business objectives Forms of business – Sole trader, LTD, PLC etc..  Supply and demand Price elasticity of demand Income elasticity of demand 
Term 3 Marketing Product Price Promotion Distribution   Marketing Strategy  How are products designed Types of promotion How to build a brand Pricing strategies Distribution methods for a business How do social trends influence the marketing mix  Importance of a product portfolio 
Term  4     Managing people Approaches to staffing Recruitment training and selection Organisational design Method of motivations, importance of motivation Leadership styles 
Term 5 Business choices Moving from an entrepreneur to a leader  Opportunity cost for business decision Trade offs for a business Difficulty in transitioning from an entrepreneur to a leader 
Term 6 Exam Question technique   Introduction to Y13 content  Focusing on question and paragraph structure for each type of exam question  What is globalisation?  Highlight the Impact of this on Multinational corporations 

Year 12 Theme 2 

 Topic Learning Outcomes 
Term 1  Raising finance Sources of finance (internal and external) for small, medium and multinational businesses Importance of liability for a business Understanding the importance Business planning   How to manage Cash flow  
Term 2    Financial planning Understanding Break-even charts, importance to a business of breakeven How to understand Sales forecasting   The importance of Budgeting   
Term 3 Managing finance  Financial statements  How to calculate Profit and profit margins.  Liquidity   Business failure   
Term 4 Resource management Production, productivity and efficiency   Capacity utilisation   Stock control Ratios Quality management   
Term 5 External influences Economic influences  on a business Legislation  and its impact on a business The competitive environment   
Term 6 Exam technique  Case study analysis   Calculation practice Focusing on question and paragraph structure for each type of exam question Be able to read a case study and improve the way we apply theoretical concepts to the information provided.  Build confidence and consolidate our knowledge on the key calculations 

Y13 Theme 3 

 Topic Learning Outcomes 
Term 1     Business objectives and strategy  What are Corporate objectives   Theories of corporate strategy   The external environment  and its impact on business 
Term 2 Business growth Types of organic growth  Types of inorganic growth   Reasons for a business to stay small 
Term 3 Decision making techniques The importance of quantitative sales forecasting  for a business How to construct and understand Decision trees   How to calculate and understand Investment appraisal   How to understand and interpret Critical path analysis 
Term 4 Influences on business decisions Assessing competitiveness  What is Corporate culture   Stakeholder versus shareholder approach   Understanding business ethics and CSR – impact on a business Interpretation of financial statements and uses  Understanding Ratio analysis   The use of Human resources strategies in a business 
Term 5 Managing change  Causes and effects of change on a business The importance of scenario planning for a business 
Term 6 Exam technique  Students to sit external exams Papers 1-3    Focusing on question and paragraph structure for each type of exam question   

Y13 Theme 4 

 Topic Learning Outcomes 
Term 1            Business objectives and strategy                        What are Corporate objectives   Theories of corporate strategy   The external environment  and its impact on business
Term 2  Business growth Types of organic growth  Types of inorganic growth   Reasons for a business to stay small 
Term 3  Decision making techniques The importance of quantitative sales forecasting  for a business How to construct and understand Decision trees   How to calculate and understand Investment appraisal   How to understand and interpret Critical path analysis 
Term 4   Influences on business decisions Assessing competitiveness  What is Corporate culture   Stakeholder versus shareholder approach   Understanding business ethics and CSR – impact on a business Interpretation of financial statements and uses  Understanding Ratio analysis   The use of Human resources strategies in a business 
Term 5   Managing change  Causes and effects of change on a business The importance of scenario planning for a business 
Term 6   Exam technique  Students to sit external exams  Focusing on question and paragraph structure for each type of exam question. Ensure students are confident with paragraph and question structure.  
 Topic Learning Outcomes 
Term 1 GlobalisationWhat are growing economies? Impact upon a business? Benefits and drawback of international trade on a business due to globalisation Factors contributing to increased globalisation Impact of protectionism on a business Understand the differing types of trade blocs/agreements and their impact on a business The reasons for global mergers and joint ventures The impact on a business of global competitiveness  
Term 2 Global markets and business Be able to assess the condition that prompt trade in differing countries Be able to assess a country as a potential market Be able to assess a country as potential production location 
Term 3 Global Marketing Understand the differing marketing approaches a business may use in difference countries/cultures Understand what a global niche market is and how a marketing mix need to be adapted to suit this.  Understand and the social/cultural factors that will influence a business decision  
Term 4 Global industries and companies (multinational corporations) The impact Multinational corporations have on society The impact business ethic can have on business decisions  Evaluate how government may look to control the behaviour of multinational corporations 
Term 5 Case study practice  Re-cap core areas of theme 1 and 4  Improve the student’s ability to apply theoretical concepts to given case studies. Build the students confidence on the core concepts of the 1, consolidating knowledge and understanding of them  
Term 6 External exams- Students will sit papers 1-3  Final preparations for external exams. Ensure students are confident with paragraph and question structure.