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Smithdon High School

Business

This course will be delivered from September 2021.

Business at Smithdon High School

The entrepreneur is the future with new ideas and new products, they will ensure that the economy flourishes. West Norfolk has lots of businesses set up by people willing to take a risk. Being taught about the essential components of a business such as enterprise, people and products whilst learning about the skills required to operate in a competitive global economy might give students inspiration to set up and run a business of the future.

A Business qualification provides opportunities for progression including the option to progress to A level and vocational courses. Careers supported by a Business GCSE are very wide-ranging including accounting, finance, human resources, marketing and management. The transferrable quantitative and interpretative skills taught during the course can be used in any job.

Business teacher

Mr S. Chapman – Head of Department and SLT member
 

The Business curriculum

GCSE Topics

The department follows the OCR Business 1-9 specification which has two written exams: -

Unit 1: Business activity, marketing and people. (50% of final exam) 1hr 30 mins exam.

Students will complete the unit Business activity, marketing and people. This covers the role of the entrepreneur setting up and growing new businesses.  It also looks at the marketing of products and the role of human resources in the operations of different firms.

Unit 2: Operations finance and influences on business (50% of final exam) 1hr 30 mins exam

The second unit is called Operations finance and influences on business. This covers the role of production, sales and business location. It also looks at finance and accounting as well as the external influences on business operations such as the economic climate and globalisation.

Exams include multiple choice, short answer, longer answer questions and data response-based questions.

In Summary

Year 10 topics

Topic 1

Topic 2

Topic 3

Business activity

  • The role of business enterprise and entrepreneurship
  • Business planning
  • Business ownership
  • Stakeholders in business
  • Business growth

Marketing

  • The role of marketing
  • Market research
  • Market segmentation
  • The marketing mix

People

  • The role of human resources
  • Organisational structures
  • Communication in business
  • Recruitment and selection
  • Motivation and retention
  • Training and development
  • Employment law

Year 11 topics

Topic 1

Topic 2

Topic 3

Operations

  • Production processes
  • Quality of goods and services
  • The sales process and customer service
  • Consumer law
  • Business location
  • Working with suppliers

Finance

  • The role of the finance function
  • Sources of finance
  • Revenues, costs, profit, and loss
  • Break-even
  • Cash and cash-flow

Influences on business

  • Ethical and environmental considerations
  • The economic climate
  • Globalisation
  • The interdependent nature of business

Useful Links

Link to the GCSE OCR Business 1-9 specification

https://ocr.org.uk/qualifications/gcse/business-j204-from-2017/

 

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