A-Level

Business Studies

A laptop with a pie chart to represent Business Studies at East Barnet School
Business Studies

Entry Criteria

English GCSE

Grade 5

Maths GCSE

Grade 5

Business Studies GCSE

Grade 6

Careers

Business students develop many valuable skills and areas of knowledge that enable significant contributions to the corporate and not-for-profit worlds, such as quantifying data, evaluating financial impact decisions, and using figures to backup proposals. Students learn to write in a clear and concise manner as well as researching and analysing case study material. Group work and team presentations form a vital part of being a business student to learn the challenges and value of teamwork whilst refining presentation and leadership skills. Jobs for Business Graduates include: accountant, management consultant, social media manager, financial analyst, actuary, admissions representative, teacher, business reporter, corporate attorney, etc. 

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Course ID
AQA 7132
Faculty
Social Sciences
Department
Business Studies
Level
A-Level
Head of Faculty
B. Smith-Appollis
Head of Department
B. Smith
Availability
Currently Studied, Offered Next Academic Year (subject to enrolment numbers)
Business Studies

Course Overview

Step into the dynamic and ever-evolving world of business with our A-Level Business Studies course. Tailored for curious minds and future leaders, this course challenges you to build a solid foundation across essential areas, including marketing, finance, management, and operational decision-making. It’s an opportunity to discover what makes businesses succeed and to begin crafting your own path in the business world.

You will gain a comprehensive, 360° view of how successful businesses operate, developing the skills to analyse real-world problems, think critically, and make reflective, impactful decisions. By applying proven theories and models, you’ll be well-equipped to structure exam-style answers with confidence and precision, sharpening your analytical and problem-solving abilities with purpose and ambition.

Throughout the year, we will explore how business functions interconnect, driving competitiveness and market influence, while also exploring the impact of ethics and environmental factors on decisions. By the end, you’ll have both a solid theoretical framework and practical insights into how real businesses thrive in a complex global environment. This course is more than a qualification – it’s your launchpad into the vibrant business world, ready to open doors in any industry.

Course Content

Year 12

 

Term Unit of Work Assessment
Autumn 1 Introduction to Business and Objectives – Different forms of business, Issues in understanding forms of business, What managers do, Management and leadership styles, Stakeholders.
Marketing – Marketing and Decision Making, Marketing and Competitiveness, Setting marketing objectives, Understanding markets, Market research, interpreting marketing data, Elasticity of demand, Market Data and Analysis, Segmentation, targeting and positioning, Niche and mass marketing.
Decision Making – decision trees, opportunity costs, operational objectives, Efficiency and labour productivity, lean production, Capacity utilisation, Technology, Quality, Supply chain management.
Finance – Sources of Finance and Break-Even Analysis.
Essay 10 – 12 Marks on topics covered.
Essay 10 – 12 Mark essay on topics covered.
End of section mock examination.
Autumn 2 Introduction to Business and Objectives – Different forms of business, Issues in understanding forms of business, What managers do, Management and leadership styles, Stakeholders.
Marketing – Marketing and Decision Making, Marketing and Competitiveness, Setting marketing objectives, Understanding markets, Market research, interpreting marketing data, Elasticity of demand, Market Data and Analysis, Segmentation, targeting and positioning, Niche and mass marketing.
Decision Making – decision trees, opportunity costs, operational objectives, Efficiency and labour productivity, lean production, Capacity utilisation, Technology, Quality, Supply chain management.
Finance – Sources of Finance and Break-Even Analysis.
20 Mark Essay on topic covered.
20 mark essay on topics covered.
End of Section Examination.
Spring 1 Marketing Mix 7Ps, product life cycle and product portfolio, pricing decisions, place and promotion decisions, integrating the marketing mix.
Human resource objectives, motivation in theory, motivation in practice, organisational design, human resource flow, employer-employee relations, human resource data, decision making and improved H.R. performance.
Finance – Cash flow management, budgeting and profit analysis.
10 – 12 mark essay on topics
covered.
16 – 20 mark essay on topics
covered.
16 – 20 mark essay on topics
covered.
Spring 2 Marketing Mix 7Ps, product life cycle and product portfolio, pricing decisions, place and promotion decisions, integrating the marketing mix.
Human resource objectives, motivation in theory, motivation in practice, organisational design, human resource flow, employer-employee relations, human resource data, decision making and improved H.R. performance.
Finance – Cash flow management, budgeting and profit analysis.
10 – 12 mark essay on topics
covered.
16 – 20 mark essay on topics
covered.
16 – 20 mark essay on topics
covered.
Summer 1 Year 13 content.
Change Management – Section on the syllabus for Year 13 that will be covered in Year 12.
Mock examination based on Year 12 content. Paper 1 and Paper 2.
Summer 2 Year 13 content.
Change Management – Section on the syllabus for Year 13 that will be covered in Year 12.
25 mark essay for Summer Holiday based on change management.

 

Year 13

Term Unit of Work Assessment
Autumn 1 Mission, corporate objectives and strategy, internal position of a business to assess strengths and weaknesses, financial ratio analysis, internal position of a business to assess strengths and weaknesses, overall performance.
Opportunities and threats: political and legal change, economic change, the opportunities and threats: social and technological.
Assessing innovation, assessing internationalization, assessing greater use of digital technology.
Essay 16 – 20 marks on topics covered.
Essay 16 – 20 mark essay on topics covered.
End of section test.
Autumn 2 Mission, corporate objectives and strategy, internal position of a business to assess strengths and weaknesses, financial ratio analysis, internal position of a business to assess strengths and weaknesses, overall performance.
Opportunities and threats: political and legal change, economic change, the opportunities and threats: social and technological.
Assessing innovation, assessing internationalization, assessing greater use of digital technology.
24-mark essay on topic
covered.
25-mark essay on topics
covered.
Dec / Jan mock examination, paper 1.
Spring 1 Analysing the external environment to assess opportunities and threats, the competitive environment. Analysing strategic options: investment appraisal.
Strategic direction: choosing which markets to compete in and what products to offer Strategic positioning: choosing how to compete.
February mock examination.
Paper 2.
Spring 2 Analysing the external environment to assess opportunities and threats, the competitive environment. Analysing strategic options: investment appraisal.
Strategic direction: choosing which markets to compete in and what products to offer Strategic positioning: choosing how to compete.
Mock examination.
Paper 3.
Summer 1 Revision.  
Summer 2 ‘A’ Level Examination. ‘A’ Level Examination.

 

Extended Learning

Year 12

Websites Read Visit or Watch Extra
Seneca Learning; Tutor2u. Business for AQA A Level Answer Guide (Marcouse I. & Marcouse C.); Standard Marcouse Answer Guide; Marketing, 3rd Edn (Baines P. & Fill C.); The Daily Drucker (Drucker & Maciatello Butterworth); The Business Book (Ian Marcouse, Nigel Watson and others); How to Start your own Business (Ashton R.). Bizconsesh YouTube. Leadership opportunities – Individual tutoring opportunities for the Sixth Form students. Visit to New York. Trip to Brussels.

 

Year 13

Websites Read Visit or Watch Extra
Seneca Learning; Tutor2u. Business for AQA A Level Answer Guide (Marcouse I. & Marcouse C.); Standard Marcouse Answer Guide; Marketing, 3rd Edn (Baines P. & Fill C.); The Daily Drucker (Drucker & Maciatello Butterworth); The Business Book (Ian Marcouse, Nigel Watson and others); How to Start your own Business (Ashton R.). Bizconsesh YouTube. Leadership opportunities – Individual tutoring opportunities for the Sixth Form students. Visit to New York. Trip to Brussels.