Business Studies Curriculum - Horizon Community College

CURRICULUM

Business Studies

Business Studies Curriculum Intent

Business provides students with the knowledge, practice and confidence they need to become the next generation of capable employees and entrepreneurs. Our students will explore real-world situations to develop and embed these entrepreneurial skills, which will enable them to become finance friendly, analytical, articulate and problem solvers.

Key STRANDS

Develop business knowledge and a conceptual understanding

Students are introduced to the world of business and given the opportunity to develop their knowledge and understanding of business concepts and the impact of external issues. This is delivered through a variety of activities that allow students to link their understanding problem solving activities and decision making.

It is important that students that are able to carry out research and interpret the data collected through a number of presentation methods. Students will develop numeracy skills to allow them to calculate profit and become finance friendly. They will then use numerical data to help them make decisions and solve business related problems.

Collate & manipulate data/ information

Articulate and communication

An effective business students has the ability to work effectively as a team and the confidence to succeed as an individual. They will persevere when working hard on their presentation skills and develop their exam analysis and evaluation.

Students will engage in the subject through an application of real-life businesses and having the opportunity to develop employability skill through joint projects with our college Careers & Enterprise team.

Interpretation/ application of real-world issues

Year 10

Introduction to Business

Content – This will be an introduction into the purpose of a business, including what stakeholders are, the risks & rewards involved in an entrepreneur start-up a business.

Skills –
· Presenting information
· Working independently

GCSE

OCR

Introduction to business (Suitability project)

Content -
This will be an introduction into the purpose of a business, including what stakeholders are, the risks & rewards involved in an entrepreneur start-up a business.

We will also look into the importance of focusing on customer needs when collecting when carrying out research, including customer feedback.
Skills -
• Collecting research, e.g. questionnaires.

• Collating & interpreting data

• Decision making

• Presenting information

• Working independently

TOPIC 1

Theme 1: Business environment

Content
Students will investigate competitive markets & the importance of a business developing a competitive advantage, through the use of differentiation.

In addition students will look into the legalities of protection their business ideas to ensure that they protect their business.

Students will use numerical skills to calculate market share.
Skills
• Collating & interpreting data

• Decision making

• Presenting information

• Working independently

• Working effectively as a team

• Analyse & evaluation

Topic 2

Theme 1: Financial planning

Content
Students will gain an understanding of cash v. cashflow and will use their numerical skills to calculate revenue, costs, profit & breakeven analysis & how information can be used to aid decision-making.
Skills
• Decision making

• Numeracy – Finance friendly

• Working independently

• Working effectively as a team

Topic 3

Theme 1: Business Start-ups

Content
Students will gain an understanding of the options around starting up your own business, including types of business ownership and options for financing the business. They will also look at how to put together a business plan & setting suitable SMART aims & objectives.
Skills
• Linking learning & knowledge

• Decision making

• Real-world issues

• Working independently

• Working effectively as a team

• Analyse & evaluation

Topic 4

Theme 1: Attracting & Retaining Customers

Content
Students will look into the importance of creating an effective Marketing Mix that will support the success of the business/ products & lead to repeat custom, including advertising, promotions & pricing strategies.
Skills
• Linking learning & knowledge

• Decision making

• Real-world issues

• Working independently

• Working effectively as a team

• Analyse & evaluation

Topic 5

Theme 1: Recruitment

Content
Students will have the opportunity to look into the world of business, as we work with the Careers & Enterprise on methods of recruitment, the training & development available & for personal development of how to apply for a job. We will then investigate the organisational structures of small & medium to large businesses & how businesses can motivation employees to be more productive.
Skills
• Decision making

• Real-world issues

• Working independently

• Working effectively as a team

• Employability skills

• Analyse & evaluation

Topic 6

Introduction to business (Suitability project)

Content -
This will be an introduction into the purpose of a business, including what stakeholders are, the risks & rewards involved in an entrepreneur start-up a business.

We will also look into the importance of focusing on customer needs when collecting when carrying out research, including customer feedback.
Skills -
• Collecting research, e.g. questionnaires.

• Collating & interpreting data

• Decision making

• Presenting information

• Working independently

TOPIC 1

COURSEWORK UNIT 1: TASK 1 – COMPLETE RESEARCH TO AID DECISION MAKING

Content -
Students will continue working on their first unit of coursework, which contributes to 30% of* their final course grade once the unit is complete. In this task students will carry out research by creating at least three different methods of primary & secondary to help gain the views of others, in order to develop a product that meets consumer needs & wants.
Skills -
· Collection of research

· Analysis of data

· Decision making

· Presenting information

· Working independently

TOPIC 2

COURSEWORK UNIT 1: TASK 2 – CUSTOMER PROFILE

Content
As part of their unit 1 coursework, students will use their market research findings to identify a target market, so students are able to create a customer profile & identify a product that fulfils customer needs & wants.
Skills
· Analysis of data

· Decision making

· Presenting information

· Working independently

Topic 3

COURSEWORK UNIT 1: TASKS 3&4 – PRODUCE A DESIGN PROPOSAL & REVIEW

Content
As part of their unit 1 coursework, students will investigate the importance of the design mix & focus on which element they think best fits their target market. Students will draw on their market research to aid in decision making when they create at least two product designs that fulfil their target market’s needs & wants. Students will need to assess their product designs using peer review & self-assessment, to determine how successful they have been in applying their designs to the chosen design mix element & how they have appealed to their customer base, using the research they have collected.
Skills
· Analysis of data

· Decision making

· Self-assessment

· Presenting information

· Working independently

Topic 4

COURSEWORK UNIT 1: TASK 5 – FINANCIAL VIABILITY OF PRODUCT DESIGN

Content
As part of their unit 1 coursework, students will need to provide financial information, to support the viability of their chosen product design. For this they will need to produce realistic costings, calculate, revenue, total costs, based on their predicted number of sales & then look at calculating the break-even. Students will need to recommend a suitable pricing strategy that will reflect the brand image for their product as well as being affordable for their target market.
Skills
· Numeracy & finance friendly

· Analysis of data

· Decision making

· Presenting information

· Working independently

Topic 5

COURSEWORK UNIT 1: TASK 6 – REVIEW SUCCESS OF PRODUCT DESIGN

Content
As part of their unit 1 coursework, students will review the external factors that may impact on the success of their business proposal. They will carry out an assessment & evaluate the risks & challenges that are associated with producing their product design. They will then need to consider what could be done to help minimise/ overcome the risks & challenges companies face.
Skills
· Analysis of data

· Decision making

· Presenting information

· Working independently

Topic 6

COURSEWORK UNIT 2: DEVELOPING A BRAND IDENTITY

Content
Students will have completed their unit 1 coursework & it will have been submitted to the exam board (no resit/ catch-up opportunities in Year 11). Starting after the summer half-term, students will start their second unit of coursework, which is also worth 30% of their final course grade. Students will investigate successful brands & use their findings to help them create a brand identity, personally & image that will appeal to their target market & product proposal from coursework unit 1.
Skills
· Analysis of data

· Decision making

· Presenting information

· Working independently

Topic 7

YEAR 11

GCSE

OCR

Theme 2: External influences

Content
Students will investigate competitive markets & the impact that changes in the economy will have on businesses globally, e.g. inflation, exchange rates, interest rates, etc.

We will also look at the impact on technology & legislation on the business & the importance of businesses from an ethical standpoint.
Skills
• Decision making

• Real-world issues

• Working independently

• Working effectively as a team

Topic 1

Theme 2: Production

Content -
We will investigate the different working operations within a business, e.g. batch, job & mass production, etc. Along with the importance of working with suppliers to ensure efficiency. Students need to understand the methods & benefits of managing quality. Students will also gain an insight into the sales process.
Skills -
• Collating & interpreting data

• Decision making

• Presenting information

• Working independently

• Working effectively as a team

• Analyse & evaluation

TOPIC 2

Theme 2: Product Development

Content
Students will begin to use the research they have carried out to make informed decision when creating 3-4 product designs specific for their target market.

Then using additional research, students will make justified choices to make improvements to their final hat choice.

Students will also look into the importance of creating a brand to provide a unique selling point for their product designs.
Skills
• Linking learning & knowledge

• IT skills

• Decision making

• Working independently

• Analyse & evaluation

Topic 3

Theme 2: Business success

Content
Students will look into how businesses grow, e.g. internal & external. We will also look at how growth can lead to economies of scale & as a result of expansion there will be a need for the business to change its aims & objectives.
Skills
• Linking learning & knowledge

• Decision making

• Real-world issues

• Working independently

• Working effectively as a team

• Analyse & evaluation

Topic 4

Theme 2: Business performance

Content
Students will be expected to assess the financial performance of a business.

Students will also use their numerical skills to calculate Gross/ Net profit and in addition percentage changes in the average rate of return (ARR).
Skills
• Decision making

• Numeracy – Finance friendly

• Working independently

• Working effectively as a team

• Analyse & evaluation

Topic 5

COURSEWORK UNIT 1: TASKS 3&4 – PRODUCE A DESIGN PROPOSAL & REVIEW

Content -
As part of their unit 1 coursework, which is worth 25% of their final course grade, students will draw on their market research to aid in decision making when they create at least two product designs that fulfil their target market’s needs & wants.

Students will need to assess their product designs using peer review & self-assessment, to determine how successful they have been at creating a product that appeals to their customer base, using the research they have collected.

Skills -
• Analysis of data

• Decision making

• Self-assessment

• Presenting information

• Working independently

TOPIC 1

COURSEWORK UNIT 1: TASK 5 – FINANCIAL VIABILITY OF PRODUCT DESIGN

• Analysis of data

• Decision making

• Presenting information

• Working independently

Topic 2

COURSEWORK UNIT 1: TASK 6 – REVIEW SUCCESS OF PRODUCT DESIGN

Topic 3

COURSEWORK UNIT 2: TASK 1 – DEVELOPING A BRAND IDENTITY

Content
Students will start to work on their unit 2 coursework, which is also worth 25% of their final course grade.

Students will investigate successful brands & use their findings to help them create a brand identity, personally & image that will appeal to their target market & product proposal from coursework unit 1. Students will also be expected to create a promotional campaign to that will help support the success of their product proposal 1.
Skills
• Decision making

• Presenting information

• Working independently

Topic 4

COURSEWORK UNIT 2: TASK 2 – DEVELOP A PITCH PROPOSAL

Content
As part of their second unit of coursework, students will need to develop & practice a pitch designed to promote their product proposal & encourage business audience to invest in their idea. Students will need to make improvements based on peer feedback from their practise run, before preparing to present to a small panel of people.
Skills
• Communication

• Presenting information

• Working independently

Topic 4

COURSEWORK UNIT 2: TASK 3 – PROFESSIONAL PITCH TO AN AUDIENCE

Content
Students will present their pitch to a mall group of people & feedback will be provided. Students will be encouraged to use props & handouts to help them deliver their product proposal. Students will need to prepare for potential questions that the audience may have about the pitch & business proposal.
Skills
• Communication

• Presenting information

• Working independently

Topic 4

COURSEWORK UNIT 2: TASK 4 – DEVELOP A PROPOSAL FOR THE BUSINESS CHALLENGE

Content
To complete unit 2, students will evaluate & reflect on their pitch. Not only will students be provided with the feedback from the audience, they will also be required to self-assess their pitch & the skills they demonstrated & what they could do to improve in the future.

They will also bring together their work from both unit 1 & unit 2 coursework, to assess the overall potential success of their business proposal. They will need to justify why they think their business proposal will be successful.
Skills
• Analysis of data

• Presenting information

• Working independently

Topic 4

CURRICULUM