Business and Economics

The Business Department offers a number of educational pathways for JRCS students.

• BTEC Level 2 Business Award
• BTEC Tech Award in Enterprise (from Sept 2018)
• GCSE Business Studies
• GCSE Economics (year 11 only)

Year 9 – if you are thinking of choosing BTEC Business or GCSE Business, there are a few things you need to know…

• If you prefer coursework over exam then BTEC could be the right course for you as it is assessed mainly by coursework, but every piece of work you do counts towards your final grade so don’t think this is the easy option, because it’s not!
• You can only choose one course at GCSE from all that we offer, so you would choose either GCSE or BTEC.
• We offer intervention and revision sessions out of school hours for all of our subjects.
• You will work hard in Business, but our Student Voice tells us overwhelmingly that they JRCS students like the subjects they have chosen and often choose them again for Sixth Form and university. They say “Business is about life.”

Key Stage 4 Courses Offered

GCSE Business Studies Edexcel – Current year 11

This qualification is worth 1 GCSE graded A* – G and it offers students an interesting and enjoyable GCSE qualification.

Topics covered include Marketing, Human Resources, Business Finance, External influences and Production.

Current year 11 students are on the legacy specification and in year 10 they focus on

• Unit 1: Introduction to Small Business
• Unit 2: Investigating Small Business

Current year 11 students are on the legacy specification and in Year 11 they mainly focus on

• Unit 3: Building a Business

• Current year 11 students are on the legacy specification and the assessment of this course is…

• 75% Exam
• 25% Controlled Assessment

GCSE Business Edexcel – From September 2017

Students just arriving in year 10 are on the 9-1 graded specification. Their course consists of …

• Theme 1: Investigating a Small Business
  • Topic 1.1 Enterprise and entrepreneurship
  • Topic 1.2 Spotting a business opportunity
  • Topic 1.3 Putting a business idea into practice
  • Topic 1.4 Making the business effective
  • Topic 1.5 Understanding external influences on business

• Theme 2: Building a Business
  • Topic 2.1 Growing the business
  • Topic 2.2 Making marketing decisions
  • Topic 2.3 Making operational decisions
  • Topic 2.4 Making financial decisions
  • Topic 2.5 Making human resource decisions

Students just arriving in year 10 are on the 9-1 graded specification. Their course is assessed by …

100% Exam

• Theme 1: Worth 50%
• Theme 2: Worth 50%

GCSE Economics Edexcel – Current year 11

This qualification is a combination of Business and Economics. It is ideal for students who are planning to take Economics as an A level subject and will help to strengthen their knowledge and understanding and therefore their results. It is worth 1 GCSE grade A* – G.

Current year 11 students are on the legacy specification and in year 10 they focus on

• Unit 1: Introduction to Small Business
• Unit 2: Investigating Small Business

Current year 11 students are on the legacy specification and in year 11 they focus on

• Unit 5: Introduction to Economic Understanding
  Assessment: 75%
  Exam 25% Controlled assessment

Click here to investigate the exam board specification

BTEC Level 2 Award in Business (NQF)

Btec level 2 Award in Business is equivalent to 1 GCSE. This is mainly made up of coursework, but there is also an examination element to one unit. The students will study Enterprise, Recruitment, Customer Service and Finance.

Studied in Year 10

• Unit 1: Enterprise in the Business World
• Unit 8: Recruitment, Selection and Employment

Studied in Year 11

• Unit 2: Finance for Business (examined unit)
• Unit 4: Principles of Customer Service

This course will be changing as of September 2018 (to BTEC Tech award in Enterprise)

Click here to investigate the BTEC Specification

Progression routes include BTEC Nationals in Business, A Level courses or employment

KS5 Business Sixth Form courses offered

BTEC National Level 3 Extended Diploma in Business (NQF)

This qualification is worth 3 A Level grades (Extended diploma) Distinction* – PASS. It uses three option blocks and provides a Vocational alternative for students.

• 13 Assignments
• 4 external assessments
  • 3 Case studies in the classroom
  • 1 exam sat in the hall

In year 12 Students will study,

Internally assessed 

• Unit 1: Exploring Business
• Unit 4: Managing  a Business Event
• Unit 8: Recruitment and Selection Process
• Unit 22: Market Research
• Unit 18: Creative Promotion

Externally assessed 

• Unit 2: Developing a Marketing Campaign
• Unit 3: Personal and Business Finance

In year 13 Students will study,

Internally assessed 

• Unit 5: International Business
• Unit 9: Team Building in Business
• Unit 19: Pitching for a New Business
• Unit 27: Work Experience in Business

Externally assessed 

• Unit 6: Principles of Management
• Unit 7: Business Decision Making

Homework Policy

Students are given assignments and deadlines to meet. The student will have lesson time and study time in school to complete this work, but they will also need to complete work out of school at home – as homework. The quantity of this homework will depend on the student and their ability to manage their workload effectively during the day. Managing workload is part of the learning curve of the course. Students will have additional work to complete if they do not achieve work on their first submission. Also students will have a higher workload if they are working towards merit and distinction grades. Work is assessed by the class teacher, internally verified by the Lead IV (Miss Wright) and a sample is checked externally by Pearson. All marking occurs in line with the BTEC marking policy, details of which can be found in the JRCS BTEC Student handbook.

A Level Business (Edexcel) 2 year course

Taught by 2 different teachers consecutively delivering Theme 1 and Theme 2 in year 12 and Theme 3 and Theme 4 in year 13

Year 12

• Theme 1: Marketing and People
• Theme 2: Managing Business Activities

Year 13

• Theme 3: Business Decisions and Strategy
• Theme 4: Global Business

KS5 A level homework policy

Formal homework will be set by each teacher at least once per week. Therefore students should expect 2 pieces of formal homework that will involve some writing twice a week. (usually issued on double lessons) Other mini homeworks might be set where the student has to observe something, or watch something or think about something. All homework should be relevant to the lessons being studied at the time. Marking will be done within 1 week of student submission. Where possible, homework will be marked with the aim of returning it by next lesson. Feedback will be given to the students on their performance and how to improve in the future.

Of the students who have studied Business and Economics at A-Level many have gone on to attend top universities.

BTEC level 3 students were amongst the most successful in the Sixth Form, all achieving at least Distinctions.

“Enterprise education is about creating a ‘can do’ attitude and encouraging students to have the drive to make things happen.  It is supported by better financial capability and business and economic understanding.”

We want to help our students develop the qualities of an entrepreneur:

• Self-reliance
• ‘Can do’ outlook
• Risk taking
• Committed
• Ambitious
• High aspirations
• Responsible
• Motivated
• Independent

Over the past few years JRCS students have enjoyed a number of opportunities.

• Guest speakers
• Internships with high profile entrepreneurs.
• Jack Petchey Speak Out challenge
• Big Stir Coffee Morning
• Children in need fundraising
• JRCS “The Apprentice”
• Speedy Saver Snacks
• Running the lower school disco
• Setting up JR INK, the School Stationery shop

KS4 GCSE marking policy

Class books will be marked regularly, ideally every 2 weeks. The marking of assessments will take priority over everything else to provide the students with feedback as soon as possible. Students are encouraged to peer assess and self-assess in lessons using green pen. Literacy marking should also take place by peers as well as teaching staff. There should be time for reflection on marking in lessons.

The Business and Economics Department KS4 & KS5 BTEC marking policy

The BTEC marking policy will be followed for all BTEC assessments. These policies can be found in the JRCS BTEC student handbook.

The Business and Economics Department KS5 A level marking policy

Class notes will not usually be marked, unless the activity is a worksheet or activity that require independent development. These will be marked regularly in student folders, ideally every 2 weeks. The marking of assessments will take priority over everything else to provide the students with feedback as soon as possible. Students are encouraged to peer assess and self-assess in lessons using green pen. Literacy marking should also take place by peers as well as teaching staff to help develop literacy skills. There should be time for reflection on marking in lessons. This is especially important during the Sixth form milestone assessments where detailed feedback and task marking is provided for the students to act upon.