Our approach
Subject Leader
Curriculum Overview
Year 10
Year 11
Year 12
Year 13

Our approach

The Business curriculum starts in Year 10 and runs through to year 13. Across the 4 years we encompass 5 key themes, Business Finance, Business Operations, Business and People, Business Marketing and Business and the external environment, the complexity of themes grows throughout the study of Business at Ark St Alban’s, all the time learning how these themes are also interdependent. The course starts by defining what a business is and who starts businesses. Learners will be able to identify what makes a successful business and why businesses fail, assess how entrepreneurs meet the challenges of the environment, the impact of changing technology, globalisation and competition. Learners will go on to apply their knowledge and understanding to different business case studies ranging from small enterprises to large multinationals and businesses operating in local, national and global contexts. Learners will develop an understanding of how these contexts impact business behaviour. We will expose learners to entrepreneurial values and help them to understand the risks and rewards involved when creating a business. We want to build on quantitative skills and ideas based on case study information to analyse and solve problems. By the end of KS4 learners will have a vast array of business knowledge that they are able to use to justify decisions that case study businesses should take. 

Exam Board: Edexcel

Subject Leader

Emma Castle

emma.castle@arkstalbans.org

Curriculum Overview

Year 10

Autumn 1 Autumn 2
Where do new business ideas come from? How do new business ideas become actual businesses?
Spring 1 Spring 2
What decisions do businesses need to make when they are getting started? What external influences affect the decisions that businesses make?
Summer 1 Summer 2
How do businesses grow? How do businesses grow?

All Year 10 subjects 

Year 11

Autumn 1 Autumn 2
How a business makes its marketing decisions? How does production of a product / service happen?
Spring 1 Spring 2
How does finance impact decision-making? How are human resource decisions made?
Summer 1 Summer 2

 

 

All Year 11 subjects

 

Year 12

Autumn 1 Autumn 2

What are the common features of successful businesses?  
 
Why is it important to manage your personal finance?  
 
Why is market research important to a large business?  

What effects the external environment can have on a business? 
 
Why are financial statements important to a business? 
 
How can market research benefit the launch of a new business idea? 
Spring 1 Spring 2

What are the principles and purposes of marketing that underpin the creation of a rationale for a marketing campaign?  
 
Why is it important to explore the role of an event organiser?  
 
Why are teams important for the success of a business?  
 
Why is training and development important to the success of a business?  

How do external and internal influences affect the creation of a marketing plan?  
 
What does it take to make a well-planned event? 
 
Can I work well in a team?  
 
What does a good induction plan look like and how can it benefit the business and the employee?
Summer 1 Summer 2

Can I justify my choices when creating a marketing campaign?  
 
What does good recruitment and selection look like and how can it benefit a business?

Can I effectively take part in the recruitment and selection process? 
 
Why do managers need to be adaptable? 
 
What is a business plan and how can it benefit a business when it comes to making decisions?

Year 13

Autumn 1 Autumn 2

What factors influence businesses when operating internationally?  
 
What management strategies can be used to improve the effectiveness of a business?  
 
How can decision making in a business be improved?

How can external and cultural factors influence international trade?  
 
How can HR best be managed to improve a business?  

 
How can ratio analysis benefit business decision making?
Spring 1 Spring 2

What strategies and resources are used by one large business when operating internationally?

How does effective customer service benefit a business?

What are the outcomes and benefits of work experience

What methods can be used to improve customer service in a business?

Can I complete work experience effectively?  
Summer 1 Summer 2