Business
Welcome to Business
Email the department: wilsonch@uptonhigh.co.uk
Curriculum
Intent
Whether it is Facebook, British Airways, Instagram, Twitter, Dyson, McDonalds, Cadburys, Loom Bands, KFC or Apple (to name just a few), lessons during Business are designed to allow students to access and relate to the concepts being discussed. Activities also make frequent use of clips from TV shows such as The Apprentice, Dragons’ Den, Mary Portas and The Hotel Inspector. Student feedback tells us that this makes their learning inclusive, fun and enjoyable.
In addition, lessons provide opportunities for active learning as students will be asked to get creative, complementing the enterprise education programme the school offers, such as the £10 Challenge and various Enterprise Days, which aim to develop the enterprise capability of all our students. We aspire and encourage our Business students to be creative, confident, proactive and resilient individuals.
Key Stage 3
We look to engage with key stage 3 students by introducing enterprise activities for them to attempt. These include the 10X challenge and enterprise events. These early interactions with the subject help us to develop kean, budding entrepreneurs and prospective key stage 4 Business students.
Key Stage 4
During Year 10-11 we will look at a wide range of business aspects, particularly in the context of small businesses e.g. patents, copyrights and trademarks; types of legal, business ownership; information regarding taxes for consumers, business and employees – something which is very useful to everyday life; management of stock; business ethics and the environment.
One of the most important and useful topics that students learn is how to calculate costs and revenue and present data in the form of break-even charts and cash flow forecasts. Cash flow forecasts and understanding different types of costs are heavily used in many professional occupations; combined with guidance as to how to raise finance for a business venture, students will have a solid basis in which to pursue their personal ambitions beyond GCSE.
Not everything is of course within an entrepreneur’s control and we will examine how the external factors can affect a business. In particular we will look at how exchange rates, interest rates, levels of unemployment, regulation, the environment, globalisation and the EU can all affect business. Once your studies are completed, this section of the course alone will allow students to be able to offer their views on a range of topical questions. Such as the impacts of Brexit upon UK businesses; how the exchange rate can influence business profits and decision-making; the impacts of recessions and economic growth on businesses; impacts caused by changes in interest rates; the importance of imports and exports, global commodity markets and low unemployment levels.
Knowledge of how and why businesses operate will be of great relevance to all young people, especially as they finish their education and enter the world of work. Businesses are part of our everyday lives, providing us with the products we need, communicating relentlessly with us through advertising, providing employment and inventing new products and services that transform how we live.
- Theme One = Year 10 - Investigating Small Business
- Theme Two = Year 11 - Building a Business
Further details: Key Stage 4
Key Stage 5
An exciting course that covers all aspects of the corporate world. Whether you’re interested in running your own business, or working within one, this course will provide you real-life insight into how our world works, including aspects of economics, finance, social media, current affairs and international relations.
You will study marketing, people management, finance, operations, strategy and decision making and international global growth, learning how to manage yourself and others, whilst developing your skill set to better prepare for the adult world. The skills developed are relevant and transferable to all other subjects and career choices, covering mathematical reasoning and problem solving, to analysis, evaluation and justification of decisions.
In year 12 learners will follow:
- Theme One - Marketing and people
- Theme Two - Managing business activities
- In year 13 learners will follow:
- Theme Three - Business decisions and strategy
- Theme Four - Global business
Further details: Key Stage 5
Enrichment
- 10X Challenge
- Business Visits - LFC, MUFC and Chester Zoo
Department Staff & Responsibilities
- Mr C Wilson (Head of Business)
- Mr J Jones
- Mr J Quirk
Homework
- Key Stage 4 - 1 x 20 minute piece per week (Yr 11 revision for in class tests each week)
- Key Stage 5 - Regular reading and past paper questions. H/W’s are weekly and based around examination questions.
Feedback
The Business department follows the whole school feedback policy. Feedback is regularly given in lessons during retrieval practice and questioning. Written feedback is provided for specific pieces of work and assessments.
Assessment
Key Stage 4 - Year 10 - termly assessments and end of year mock examination. Year 11 - weekly assessments and December and March mock examinations.
Key Stage 5 - Year 12 - termly assessments and end of year mock examination. Year 13 - termly assessments and December and March mock examination.
