A Level Business

Course overview

The world of business and commerce can be a real buzz. This multifaceted course allows you to reflect on the commercial world and gain an understanding of the external environment.

The A Level Business course is designed to develop the knowledge and skills needed to analyse data, think critically about issues make informed decisions and evaluate those decisions - all skills that are needed for further study and employment.

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.

Year 1 content topics include:
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.

Year 2 : 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.

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). Also, as part of your course in business you will be offered the chance to go on several educational visits including trips to The Trafford Centre, Chester Zoo, Churchill China, and Paris. There are also visits to prestigious universities where you may progress your studies at Higher Education level.

What else do I need to know?

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.

Find yourself reaching higher on our Honours Programme.
Step up to a top university or move into a competitive programme like Medicine or Law with our Honours Programme. Perfect for ambitious and high-achieving students.
The Honours Programme is an additional pathway for students whose aspirations are to progress onto highly competitive courses at top universities, such as those in the Russell Group. Once accepted onto the programme, you’ll be expected to commit extra time every week to this intensive support pathway.
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