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GCSE Business Studies

Welcome to the Business Studies Department. We are a dynamic department offering GCSE, AS and 'A' level courses in both applied and standard format. Our work involves studying various aspects of:

Recent Industrial visits have been to Coca Cola in Lambeg and B/E Aerospace in Kilkeel.

ICT is used to enhance the pupils learning in the subject. We are a very progressive department and deliver many lessons through the use of a Data Projector. The department also encourages students to get involved in extra curricular activities like the Proshare Competition and Young Enterprise.

GCSE Business Studies

The subject is divided into two units:

Unit 1 - Setting up a Business

Unit 2 - Growing as a Business

Starting a Business
• Starting a business enterprise
• Setting business aims and objectives
• Business planning
• Legal structure
• Location

Marketing
• Market research
• Marketing mix

Finance
• Finance and support for a small business
• Financial terms and calculations
• Using cash flow

People in Business
• Recruiting
• Motivating staff
• Legislation

Operations Management
• Production methods
• Customer service

The Business Organisation
• Expanding a business
• Choosing the legal structure
• Changing aims and objectives
• Choosing the best location

Marketing
• Product
• Price
• Promotion
• Place

Finance
• Finance for large businesses
• Profit and loss accounts
• Balance sheets

People in Business
• Organisational structure
• Recruitment and retention of staff

Operations Management
• Production methods for growing businesses
• Challenges of growth
Quality assurance

Key Skills 

The subject contributes to the following key skills: communication, application of number, information technology, working with others, improving your own learning and performance and problem solving.

Unit 1 Setting up a Business
Written Paper
(1 hour) 60 marks / 40%


Unit 2 Growing as a Business
Written Paper
(1 hour) 60 marks / 35%

Unit 3 Investigating Businesses
Controlled Assessment
40 marks / 25%

This subject specification follows a modular structure