Business & Finance
Subject Overview
The Business Studies Department provides students with an insight into the world of work. Students will discover how businesses operate and will learn about their key functions. Young people are a part of the business world and at some point each and every one is affected by it - as consumers, producers or employees. Business & Finance will use the experience of pupils and direct their interests into the 'real world'.
KS4
At Key Stage 4 we offer the AQA GCSE Business ( 603/0304/9). Students will consider the practical application of business concepts. The units provide opportunities to explore theories and concepts in the most relevant way, through the context of events in the business and economic world. The knowledge and skills gained from this specification will provide your students with a firm foundation for further study.
KS5
At Key Stage 5 we offer both Applied and A-Level Business.
The Applied Business course is for learners who are interested in learning about the business sector alongside other fields of study and prefer coursework assessment to examinations. It covers all the main functions of a business and gives students the opportunity to apply their knowledge and understanding through various coursework projects throughout the course.
The A-Level Business course is for those students who want a strong understanding of the theory behind the operations and management of a business. It is assessed by examination at the end of the two year course. Like the Applied Business course it covers all the main functions of a business.
We also offer the LIBF Diploma in Financial Studies (6008537X). It provides an in-depth exploration of the important concepts of financial capability and how to apply them in achieving longer-term financial stability both at a personal level and within the Banking and Finance sector. Within DipFS the student explores the political, economic, social, technological, ethical and legal impacts of personal finance in the short, medium and longer terms. Through this, a greater understanding of the impact that global events can have upon consumers and the wider financial services industry is developed. DipFS therefore enhances the ability to make informed financial decisions through effective planning to manage the risks and challenges of finance.
In addition to these three courses we also run a one year accounting course. This is run in conjunction with the Maths department and enables students to spend the first year studying Core Mathematics and learning the theory before moving onto the accounting course to apply their knowledge and learn about key accounting concepts.
For those students who are resitting GCSE English or Maths we run two Level 2 courses which can be studied alongside the resits and offer the perfect foundation to progress to a Level 3 course or an apprenticeship.
As a major option we offer BTEC Tech Level in Business Administration, which covers the skills required to work effectively in any organisation and the LIBF Financial Education course which is very similar in structure and content to our Level 3 Finance course and provides a strong grounding in personal finance and the finance sector.
Higher Education Links and Career Opportunities
Students routinely leave sixth form to study specific aspects of Business & Finance in greater depth at University. In the past students have gone on to study, Marketing Human Resource Management; Accounting and Finance and Events Management.
Both Business & Finance open up a wide range of career prospects as whatever you choose to do you will be working for a business or organisation where what you have learnt will be a part of day to day life.
Previous students have gone on to work in construction, veterinary services, retail and for organisations such as Brakes Brothers, Ashford Council and Metro Bank.
