Business Studies
OVERVIEW
A-level Business Studies is structured into two key areas: “Marketing, People, and Global Business” and “Business Activities, Decisions, and Strategy.” Each area is assessed through a dedicated final exam, with a third exam requiring students to apply knowledge from both sections to analyse a specific industry provided by the exam board.
It is highly relevant for those hoping to study business, management or accountancy at university. It is also a useful supporting subject for all pupils, because a lot of its content directly concerns everyone, whether in the world of work or as a consumer. The Edexcel A-level is designed in consultation with universities to ensure its approach is an appropriate foundation for further study.
The aim of the business studies course is to provide pupils with a critical understanding of the different functions of business organisations, and to consider the environment within which businesses operate. It encourages pupils to be aware that business behaviour can be studied from the perspectives of a range of stakeholders, such as employees, customers, creditors and owners.
The course itself includes the three key skills of communication, numeracy and ICT. Pupils will need to have a good knowledge of some of the concepts studied in GCSE/IGCSE mathematics because there is a significant emphasis on use of quantitative skills, such as reading graphs, calculating percentages and data handling. It is therefore beneficial if pupils have achieved a good grade in GCSE/IGCSE mathematics. An interest in current business affairs also helps and pupils will be encouraged to read the news and be aware of recent business stories.
CONTENT
Pupils study business in a variety of contexts (eg. large/small, UK focused/global, service/manufacturing) and consider:
- What is business?
- Managers, leadership and decision-making
- Decision-making to improve marketing, operational, financial and human resource performance
- Analysing the strategic position of a business
- Choosing strategic direction
- Strategic methods: how to pursue strategies
- Managing strategic direction
The topics lend themselves to studying and engaging with the business world. The specification and assessment should encourage pupils to follow business developments and think critically about contemporary business issues. Most of the assessment material is based on real business situations.
By examining and thinking critically about real business situations, pupils will gain an insight into different contexts. This insight will help them to understand the key issues in any situation and compare and contrast them to those of another situation.
ASSESSMENT
Paper 1 – Marketing, people and global business (2 hours)
Paper 2 – Business activities, decisions and strategy (2 hours)
Paper 3 – Investigating business in a competitive environment (2 hours)
OUR SYLLABUS
- Marketing, People, and Global Business: In the first year, students explore different types of markets, business research methods, and the application of the four Ps of marketing (Product, Promotion, Price & Place). They also examine workforce management, leadership styles, and entrepreneurial approaches. In the second year, the focus shifts to emerging economies, applying prior knowledge to a global context.
- Business Activities, Decisions, and Strategy: Students analyse how costs, sales, and revenue shape business strategies. They study financial decision-making, strategy setting, and various methods of evaluating business success.
WHY STUDY BUSINESS STUDIES AT A-LEVEL?
Business Studies is a well-established and broad-based A-level. It provides a critical understanding of the different functions of business organisations, and the environment within which businesses operate – encouraging study of business behaviour from different perspectives such as employees, customers, creditors and owners. While highly relevant for those hoping to study business, management or accountancy at university, it is also a useful supporting subject for all pupils as it focuses on real-world, contemporary topics.
Each year, students visit a local business to see theory in practice. Recent visits include Mulberry in Bridgwater, where students observed the production of high-end leather bags.
The department runs a business and economics society, offering discussions on key topics. Students also participate in a local business education competition, which King’s has won for the past two years.
