BUSINESS STUDIES KS5 COURSE OVERVIEW

HEAD OF DEPARTMENT: MR B MORDUE

ECONOMICS

 

A-Level Economics and Business

Departmental Report 2005

In November, 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 AS Economics & Business take part in fantasy share trading as part of their studies.  The school enters the Proshare Portfolio challenge: http://www.studentinvestor.org/ and in 2005 finished as the second best team in Yorkshire, and as the best state school. This was an excellent result and led to the five students (team: Sunderland AFC) taking part in the regional finals in Manchester. At the finals they were beaten into fourth place but still came away with the prize of a digital personal organiser each. 

 

Results for 2005 were again excellent with 70% of AS students achieving a Grade A or B. Well done to all, in particular to Tom Carroll who very nearly achieved top marks in his exams and coursework.

Departmental Report 2004

Year 12 pupils surpassed all expectations, with 80% of candidates achieving A - C grades at AS and A2 and 100% A* - E overall in 2004; the highest overall marks were achieved by Jessica Foggin at AS and Ben Piercy at A2.

Many of the students are to be commended for the high level of independent field research undertaken during the completion of the practical project in A-Level. In particular, Ben Piercy, who received top marks in this element.

As with previous years, it is encouraging to see how many Upper Sixth Business Studies students have decided to continue their studies in this discipline at universities throughout the UK and Ireland. Ben Piercy in particular did superbly well finishing the course with an extremely high 'A' grade at A-Level and has now gone on to study Business Studies & Economics to degree level.

As 'marketing' forms part of the GCSE and A-Level Economics & Business Studies course, we invited the Marketing Manager from 'Virgin soft drinks UK' into school for a day to talk to the students at GCSE and A Level.  This proved to be very interesting and enjoyable. Several students in Year12 were able to use the information to aid the coursework element of their work to great success.

Year 12 got the chance to develop their business and enterprise skills at a team event at Sheffield University in April. The seminar, which was hosted by Edexcel's Chief Examiner, consisted of various half hour sessions covering examination techniques, revision strategies and team working activities. The whole day proved to be extremely useful for both teachers and A-Level candidates.  

A-Level students also spent a University 'taster' day at Leeds University, where they were able to get a feel for university life and the many Business & Economics degrees on offer.  The group participated in an inter-school marketing exercise when they were there and managed to beat the other schools for the first prize.

 

Course Overview

At the start of the course, Nuffield AS level Economics and Business introduces students to the issues they meet in their own lives. It broadens out to encompass issues of national and then global significance and these dominate the A2 course.
 
Module content introduces concepts and theories, as they are needed, so that students get repeated opportunities to practice the application of key ideas. Each module is built around questions, which highlight the direction of investigation.

All concepts are taught in context, giving a concrete framework within which theory can be developed. Usually students start out with a case study, which encourages them to mobilise relevant prior knowledge and explore possible ways of generalising.
 
"Economists are concerned with the problems which arise in allocating scarce resources to alternative uses. They analyse supply and demand for both individual goods and services and the economy as a whole. Students at PHGS prepare for a variety of careers in the business, non-profit, public and academic sectors of society. The study of economics helps as citizens and community leaders and in their private affairs".