Business Studies
We have a well-established Business Studies curriculum that has been developed over the recent years and is becoming increasingly popular with pupils opting to study the subject at GCSE. This is due to how relevant the qualification is to young people considering their options for careers in a fast-changing world and the opportunities that this provides. The course fosters essential transferable skills valued by employers, including communication, analytical skills, critical thinking and decision-making.
The Edexcel course offers pupils opportunities to engage in relatable discussions regarding entrepreneurship and enterprise and to think creatively about decision making. Real-life case studies and opportunities for creative thinking, as well as use of interactive IT resources make Business Studies an engaging subject.
Business Studies is overseen by the Head of Mathematics and cross-curricular links are embedded through consistent practice related to numeracy and calculations that are required throughout the course in the context of data and finance.
We make use of several resources that can be used by pupils to support their learning including:
- Dr Frost Maths for numeracy and calculations
- BBC Bitesize to cover course content in an engaging format
- Seneca for content understanding and retrieval practise
- Tutor2U for topic tests, case studies and exam technique support
- Edexcel website for course specification, content, retrieval quizzes, past exam papers
All course information can be found in the specification available here.
Economics
Economics is a more recent part of our provision, building on the success and popularity of the Business Studies course, with the first year for GCSE examination in 2028. It offers a broader view of the impact of businesses in the UK and across the world and pupils have further opportunities to relate learning to real-life events.
Politics and global current affairs form a backdrop to the context of the course and content is broken down into a digestible format to engage pupils. There is a continued application of Mathematics, embedding further cross-curricular links through further use of formulas and a greater appreciation for the application and analysis of data representation including graphs.
Pupils also develop analytical skills by evaluating economic arguments and distinguishing between fact and opinion, as well as critical thinking when assessing the moral, ethical, and sustainability issues resulting from economic activity.
The OCR Economics GCSE is a qualification that requires less lengthy written answers and has more focus on insight through the lens of data analysis toward the impacts and implications of world events, politics and commerce on economies, both small (micro) and large (macro). This provides pupils with a choice of disciplines so that they are able to cater to their strengths.
We make use of several resources that can be used by pupils to support their learning including:
- Dr Frost Maths for formulas and graphs
- Tutor2U for topic tests, case studies and exam technique support
- OCR website for course specification, content, retrieval quizzes, past exam papers
All course information can be found in the specification available here.
For any questions relating to either subject, please contact Joel Haigh, Head of Mathematics, Business Studies and Economics. See the infographic below for the key differences between the courses (click to enlarge)
