Back to KS4 Curriculum Back to KS5 Curriculum

Students are encouraged to use previous experiences to inform their learning in business. The subjects included in business studies aim to highlight the opportunities that exist, and to furnish students with the capacity to enjoy these opportunities. The successfully entrepreneurial business world is notoriously non-academic (although every great business leader has returned to education to capitalise on their intuitions), and the business curriculum at The Leigh acknowledges diverse voices and approaches to achieving business success.

We will enable all students to reach their potential by building on their existing strengths. Learners in business will feel confident to share ideas and to take risks in the safe environment of the classroom, knowing that staff and peers share their ambition of high grades and competency in business studies.

KS4: GCSE Business

DOL: Mr Hart (adam.hart@leighacademy.org.uk)

Students are encouraged to use previous experiences to inform their learning in business. The subjects included in business studies aim to highlight the opportunities that exist, and to furnish students with the capacity to enjoy these opportunities. The successfully entrepreneurial business world is notoriously non-academic (although every great business leader has returned to education to capitalise on their intuitions), and the business curriculum at The Leigh acknowledges diverse voices and approaches to achieving business success. We will enable all students to reach their potential by building on their existing strengths. Learners in business will feel confident to share ideas and to take risks in the safe environment of the classroom, knowing that staff and peers share their ambition of high grades and competency in business studies.

Students work towards 2 x 90min Exams at the end of year 11. The classwork undertaken by students covers 6 topics with teacher-led activities, peer work and group presentations. Digital materials via Google Classroom, Seneca, Youtube and Bitesize are used to flip learning and support classroom activities. 

During the 2 year course, students explore 6 topic areas: 

  • Business in the real world, 
  • External influences, 
  • Business Operations, 
  • Human Resources, 
  • Marketing,
  • Finance. 
Intent

Exam style questions are introduced early in the programme and we focus on developing students’ ability to apply, analyse and  justify through different topic areas. This is worked through in a repetitive framework – thereby increasing confidence towards exam time.

For example, we start year 10 with Unit 1 Business in the real world, looking at what a business is and why they exist. Students should expect a preliminary discussion in class, followed by vocabulary and key ideas outlined by their teacher. In small groups, year 10 students will then investigate and discuss a case study (printed, video or online), applying themes from the course to a real situation. Following this, we would ensure any visuals or key advantages and disadvantages are noted and understood. Students will then attempt an exam style question focused on only what they have explored in that lesson.

Subsequent lessons will introduce new subject areas, following this same pattern, alongside exam practice questions, quick questions and online tools used to check comprehension and students ability to apply the right key terms / concepts to appropriate situations.

At the end of each topic students sit a 30 minute test on what we have covered, and then once per module a more substantial test is carried out, finally at the end of year 10 all students will sit a full Mock exam of Paper One content.

Exam style questions are introduced early in the programme and we focus on developing students’ ability to apply, analyse and  justify through different topic areas. This is worked through in a repetitive framework – thereby increasing confidence towards exam time.

Schedule of learning

Please see AQA website for more details of the topics covered through Year 10:

  • Unit 1 Business in the real world – why and how businesses operate, setting up, location, costs versus profits, securing capital achieving and growth.
  • Unit 2 External influences – laws, economic and social factors that affect business.
  • Unit 3 Business operations – methods of production, distribution and quality management.
  • Unit 4 Human resources – staffing needs, organisational structures and motivation theory.

During year 10, students will participate in the 10X challenge, working in groups to provide a good or service for profit.

DOL: Mr Hart (adam.hart@leighacademy.org.uk)

Students are encouraged to use previous experiences to inform their learning in business. The subjects included in business studies aim to highlight the opportunities that exist, and to furnish students with the capacity to enjoy these opportunities. The successfully entrepreneurial business world is notoriously non-academic (although every great business leader has returned to education to capitalise on their intuitions), and the business curriculum at The Leigh acknowledges diverse voices and approaches to achieving business success. We will enable all students to reach their potential by building on their existing strengths. Learners in business will feel confident to share ideas and to take risks in the safe environment of the classroom, knowing that staff and peers share their ambition of high grades and competency in business studies.

Students work towards 2 x 90min Exams at the end of year 11. The classwork undertaken by students covers 6 topics with teacher-led activities, peer work and group presentations. Digital materials via Google Classroom, Seneca, Youtube and Bitesize are used to flip learning and support classroom activities. 

During the 2 year course, students explore 6 topic areas: 

  • Business in the real world, 
  • External influences, 
  • Business Operations, 
  • Human Resources, 
  • Marketing,
  • Finance. 
Intent

Exam style questions are introduced early in the programme and we focus on developing students’ ability to apply, analyse and  justify through different topic areas. This is worked through in a repetitive framework – thereby increasing confidence towards exam time.

With a firm footing in business theory, year 11 students experience a heavier focus on exam strategy and revision techniques. Students work towards 2 x 90min Exams at the end of year 11. The classwork undertaken by students covers 6 topics with teacher-led activities, peer work and group presentations. Digital materials via Google Classroom, Seneca, Youtube and Bitesize are used to flip learning and support classroom activities. 

During the 2 year course, students explore 6 topic areas: 

  • Marketing,
  • Finance.

With integrated revision covering the 4 topics from year 10:

  • Business in the real world, 
  • External influences, 
  • Business Operations, 
  • Human Resources, 

The course is structured to ensure students have solid understanding of the materials and exam expectations, in order that we have time to practise for the final exams. Year 11 students will have exam practice questions every lesson, with focus on methods to achieve higher level questions each week. Students are expected to keep in touch with national business trends and the activities of big business, and if students have access to business people they should make efforts to get to know something about the business.

Schedule of learning

During year 11 we cover the following topics (more detail on content available from AQA website):

  • Unit 5 Marketing – who are customers, methods businesses use to satisfy their needs.
  • Unit 6 Finance – understanding the key calculations important to business success, including breakeven analysis, cash flow forecasting, profitability analysis, understanding final accounts.

At the end of module 2 students will sit both papers for the mock exam and use feedback from their result to focus their revision energies during the last part of the Business GCSE.

At the end of the course students will sit 2 x 90 minutes exams covering different aspects of the GCSE.

KS5: BTEC Extended Certificate in Business

Intent

Post 16 Business courses provide learners with a focused and clear introduction to the salient aspects of business studies. Students are encouraged to take risks and build their confidence both in terms of working with others, as well as undertaking new learning opportunities.

Students enjoy structured lessons and see their knowledge improve throughout each module. We have opportunity to reflect and apply business themes to real-life business situations. Both the BTEC and IB course provide students with hands-on experience of business to apply their learning.

Each course has a specific aim and approach to learning, suiting different student goals, and each course provides high quality opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of business ideas, and develop interpersonal skills to a high level. 

The course consists of 4 units, studies in groups through classroom activities. Year 12 students prepare for 2 controlled assessments, developing their professional writing skills under timed conditions. Teacher lead lessons focus on understanding concepts and applying to case study situations. Students have scaffolded lessons that build their analytical, explanation and evaluation skills. 

Through year 13, students complete work towards project based coursework. Students create appropriate presentations and business reports responding to briefs centred around core understanding of the topics outlined.

Learning takes the form of individual note making, research, self-directed learning activities, group work as well as exam skills practice.

BTEC students learn how to break down complex commercial information and build convincing arguments in support of a given aim. Learners are encouraged to build confidence in self-directed learning as well as group based research activities. We endeavour to simulate business environments and challenge students to think creatively, communicate effectively and develop an understanding of real business issues.

Schedule of learning 

We explore 4 business areas throughout the course. (See Pearson website for more details): 

  • Marketing, 
  • Personal and business finance, 
  • Business ownership and operations, 
  • Recruitment and selection. 

Where possible business visits and guest speakers will be set up to stimulate learners. Students also participate in the 10X Business start up competition.

KS5: IB Business Management

Post 16 Business courses provide learners with a focused and clear introduction to the salient aspects of business studies. Students are encouraged to take risks and build their confidence both in terms of working with others, as well as undertaking new learning opportunities.

Students enjoy structured lessons and see their knowledge improve throughout each module. We have opportunity to reflect and apply business themes to real-life business situations. Both the BTEC and IB course provide students with hands-on experience of business to apply their learning.

Each course has a specific aim and approach to learning, suiting different student goals, and each course provides high quality opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of business ideas, and develop interpersonal skills to a high level. 

The course features teacher-led business theory, student-led debate and deconstruction of international business ideas. Work is individually assessed, aiming to ensure exam readiness, whilst being framed in groupwork and collaboration. Students investigate real business examples through case study and focused tasks, and improve their business writing skills with the aim of successfully communicating their understanding in exam situations.

Fixed securely in the framework developed early in academic life at the Leigh, the IB Business Management program provides a platform to build on the concepts of IB with a focus on commercial operations. Students are expected to apply the IB learner profile to their responses, research, case study materials and exam practice tasks. Students completing the IB course will have explored a prescribed route through 5 key areas of business, alongside their personal character development towards confident, communicative individuals.

Schedule of learning

See IBO website for more details.

Through year 12 students build notes and face assessment regarding:

  • What is business management
  • Human resources
  • Marketing

Students also participate in the 10X business challenge

Year 13 students complete the units:

  • Operations
  • Finance

This final year, also provides learners with the task to complete an Internal Assessment project, investigating and reporting on a business issue with an organisation they contact and research individually.