A Level Business

• What is a business, i.e. ownership types, legal requirements and understanding of the external environment. 
• Managers, leadership, decision making and the importance of stakeholders.
• Decision making to improve marketing, operational, financial and human resource performance.

• Analysing the strategic position of a business - objectives, choosing a strategic direction, strategic methods (SWOT & PESTLE analysis) and managing strategic change. 
• Innovation, using digital technology, organisational culture and investigating why strategies fail.

You will often work on group projects both in and outside of class and present your work in a competitive environment. Team Challenges such as the Cereal Challenge and Bag Production Game help you to develop effective oral and written communication skills. Similarly, class debates ensure you leave this course confident to present your ideas and decisions to people and able to evaluate those decisions both orally and in a written form. This prepares you for the modern working environment.

The course includes a wide variety of learning experiences such as lectures, one to one tutorials, ICT based tasks, practical work, group work, discussions/debates and personal research when preparing for assessments. This aspect of the course is particularly important in business because it is assumed that you are keeping up-to-date with current affairs issues (which you can then utilise to support a particular point of discussion or debate). 

Studying business provides an excellent general qualification for many careers. You will be able to use this multi faceted qualification to progress easily into Higher Education because universities recognise the independence of thought and critical awareness that A Level Business courses develop. Many employers appreciate the skills and knowledge that business students will have gained during their studies. Having a business qualification will give you the ‘edge’ because you will have very relevant employability and transferable skills which employers are constantly looking for. In addition you will have studied the ‘key’ business disciplines which could then lead to a career in marketing, finance, operations management etc.

On a personal level, you will find that your awareness of business issues will enhance your understanding of the business and commercial environment. You will be actively encouraged to keep abreast of current and business related affairs such as the recent European referendum.

Assessment comprises of three 2 hour examinations at the end of two years of study.

Progression to year 2 will be dependent on successful completion of the first year taking into account Internal Progression Examination results and the Key Assessment Profile throughout the first year.

If you wish to find out more you can contact Mandi Marks, Head of Subject, by emailing mandi.marks@nscg.ac.uk

When you have gained your A Level in Business you can use it to progress into Higher Education, apprenticeship or employment. There are a wide range of undergraduate degrees available in Business both locally and further afield. 

Business can be combined with many other subjects at degree level, for example management, law and/or accounting options. The sort of jobs business graduates go on to do are wide ranging including working in the numerous and dynamic financial and money markets such as banking, retail management, specialist business disciplines such as marketing, human resources, finance and of course teaching.

This course is free for anyone aged 16 – 18. 

College Maintenance Allowance (CMA): Anyone with a household income under £26,000 can receive up to £20 per week financial support to help pay for travel and meals and meet the costs of essential trips, books, stationery and equipment. The payments will be subject to full attendance on your course. A range of other financial support is available, depending on your personal circumstances. For more details visit nscg.ac.uk/finance