Business & Economics
The Business Education Department consists of four full time members of teaching staff and is housed in the Favell Building. There are four dedicated classrooms, along with a well stocked departmental library area on the first floor, shared with the Geography Department. The department delivers 4 courses at Key Stage 5, consisting of AS Business Studies and AS Economics and A2 Business Studies and A2 Economics.
The Business Education Department aims to create an atmosphere that is dynamic in terms of its delivery of subject material, stimulating and engendering an awareness of events and issues within the global business and economic environment.
Business Studies AS & A2 Courses
The Business Studies course at AS Level focuses on 2 distinct areas of study: the internal structures of the business, exploring the rationale for business decisions and behaviour and the legal structures of the businesses themselves, then moving to the external business environment and how this affects decisions taken, along with the impact these decisions may have on stakeholders. The focus of delivery and examination is context driven, to encourage students to relate abstract concepts covered to real life business environments.
At A2, the Business Studies course builds firmly on the foundations of AS study, but begins to develop the integral skills of analysis, application and evaluation. Here, the emphasis is placed upon building on concepts previously covered and using this theory to make decisions and recommendations within the parameters of real business scenarios.
Economics AS & A2 Courses
One question that is asked most frequently by parents and students contemplating the study of Economics for the first time is: how is it different from Business Studies? The AS course in Economics immediately demonstrates the difference! The course is examined purely through external examination, with no pre-issued papers or coursework elements.
The AS course initially establishes the micro principles and models necessary to facilitate their application to the macro environment. The focus at AS is for the main part, national, but this is developed at A2 Level, where the focus is the UK in the global market. The course at AS is highly theoretical and, at times, abstract. This is necessary to allow students to develop a sound theoretical foundation to cope with the expectation that students at A2 can effectively analyse, apply and evaluate data and information to a relatively sophisticated level.
The courses at AS and A2 are demanding and challenging, but incredibly rewarding, providing a real insight into the management of the UK economy nationally, and its role internationally within the global community.
Links to curriculum guides
