Welcome | Prospectus | Language College | News | Parents | Subjects | Extra Curricular | Students | Community | Contact
Business Studies Welcome Course Overview Pupil Resources Links Enterprise

AVCE Business

Departmental Report 2004/5

International Marketing Manager ‘Mr.A.Cottam’ was a guest speaker in early 2005. He enthused AVCE students by giving them a knowledgeable insight into his role at large local firm ‘Garnetts’ paper mill. The students were able to use this useful information in their studies of ‘International Trade’.

In November, AVCE students were invited to visit the local ‘Waitrose’ branch to investigate the company as part of their studies. Michael Cooper, the Managing Director was kind enough to discuss the company and the supermarket industry in general. They also investigated some financial figures as part of the Finance element of their course.

Michael Cooper, Managing Director of Waitrose in Otley with the current Year13 AVCE students.

AVCE and A-Level students were involved in an activity organised by Leeds Metropolitan University on ‘Stakeholders of a Football Club’. The event was an enjoyable learning experience, and will be followed shortly by more guest speakers from Industry.

Students studying AVCE Business are busy taking part in fantasy share trading. This is an enrichment activity aimed at enhancing their understanding of the Stock Market. Students get the chance to pit their skills against nearly 4,000 other school teams from around the UK. The ongoing game continues to add a fun element to students learning.  http://www.studentinvestor.org/

Results for AVCE in 2004 /4 have been superb with all students pushing beyond predicted grades. Good luck to all students in 2005/6 examinations.

Course Overview

The Advanced Vocational Certificate of Education (AVCE) is designed to offer students an alternative to A and AS levels.

Aims

The Advanced Vocational Certificate of Education in Business enables development of creative and analytical thinking through investigating businesses and markets, analysing business systems, proposing improvements to business activities, proposing developments to products, investigating the importance of importance of financial forecasting and producing business plans.

The compulsory units balance knowledge and understanding of large commercial and public sector organisations with that of smaller businesses. The optional units provide further opportunities to develop an understanding of business skills and the economic and social environment in which businesses operate, as well as an opportunity to specialise in, for example, a financial, human resources, management or marketing pathway.

Awarding Body: Edexcel

Content

What will I study?

Each AVCE is made up of parts called units. These tell you what you need to learn, what evidence you have to produce and what you need to do to get a pass for the unit. There are two types of unit in your AVCE:

Mandatory units - i.e. units you must do. They cover the essential skills; knowledge and understanding you would need in a broad range of jobs in your chosen vocational area.

Optional units. These give you the opportunity to specialise.

  • At Advanced level, you can choose from three different types of award:

  • Twelve unit awards - six units are mandatory and six are optional. These are equivalent in length and standard to two A Levels.

  • Six unit awards - five units are mandatory and one optional. These are equivalent in length and standard to one A Level.

  • Three unit awards. All three units in this award are mandatory - there is no choice. These are equivalent to one AS Level.

Students for the three-unit award study units 1, 2 and 3.

Students for the six unit award study, units 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and one other.

Students for the twelve unit award study units 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 6 others yet to be determined.

Unit No Title

1 Business at work

2 The competitive business environment

3 Marketing

4 Human resources

5 Finance

6 Business planning

Where students do not take accompanying AS or A Levels it may be possible to study extra additional units. These offer students the chance to specialise in certain areas and add extra 'weight' to the overall qualification.

How will I be taught?

Students taking Aces' learn to work responsibly and, with the support of staff, are expected to take control of their own learning. Examples of ways in which you may be asked to learn are:

  • Working on your own and as part of a team

  • Doing short projects and longer assignments

  • Looking into processes and products and organising events, designing products and services

  • Through work experience.

Assessment

How will I be assessed?

In two thirds of the units your work will be collected into a portfolio and assessed as you go along

In the remaining units you will take some form of external assessment.

How does an AVCE compare with A Level?

AVCEs’, like A Levels, are graded on a scale of A to E. A GNVQ six-unit award is equivalent in standard to a single A Level. Students completing a twelve-unit award will receive two A Level grades.

What are the entry requirements?

Normally we require students to have obtained a minimum of five GCSE grade Cs. Two of these should be in English and Maths.