Business

Congratulations to the Year 13 students on achieving:

• Business Studies               

Grades A*-C   40.00%

• Economics                       

Grades A*-C   75.00%

Congratulations to the Year 13 students on achieving:

Business Studies A*-D 100%/

Economics A*-D- 100%

What is the course about?

The BTEC Level 3 Diploma is broadly equivalent to two/three GCE A Levels. The programme aims to provide students with an in depth understanding of the operations and structures of businesses and also to equip students with the skills required to succeed in employment or at university. The course will involve businesses in the public, private and voluntary sectors. Students should be aware that the course will take the entirety of their time at A-level and will be especially important for students that wish to progress with this subject at degree level.

Students will cover a range of topics that include:

• Business Resources
• Business Environment
• Marketing
• Business Communication
• Business Accounting
• Human Resources
• International Business
• Business Retail
• Internet marketing
• Starting a Small Business
• Business Economics
• Market Research

How is this course assessed?

You will be assessed continually through practical project work, coursework, written assignments, time constrained assignments and through giving presentations.

Please Note

Extended Diplomas are delivered as two one year programmes:

Year 1 - Subsidiary Diploma

Year 2 - Diploma/Extended Diploma

Students are expected to satisfactorily complete the Subsidiary programme prior to being considered appropriate for a year 2 qualification.

What can I do once I have completed the course?

Students that successfully complete their programme of study could progress onto a Business related degree or Higher National Diploma. Level three students frequently go directly into employment in areas of growth in finance, administration and management.

What is the course about?

Economics is a broad term referring to the scientific study of human action, particularly as it relates to human choice and the utilization of scarce resources. Economic analysis often progresses through deductive processes, much like mathematical logic, where the implications of specific human activities are considered in a "means-ends" framework.

During the Advanced Level course you will be introduced to the underlying theories of Economics and expected to apply them to various real world situations. In addition to acquiring a sound knowledge and understanding of the subject matter, you also need to develop your powers of logical analysis and evaluation. Many economic problems present different possible solutions and you will need to weigh up the alternatives, form your own opinion and argue your case both in class and on paper. To be successful, you will have to read widely and keep abreast of current affairs. The statistical and data handling aspects of the work require a competent performance at GCSE Mathematics.

How is the course assessed/examined?

The Pearson Edexcel Level 3 Advanced GCE in Economics A is structured into four themes and consists of three externally examined papers. Students build knowledge and understanding of core economic models and concepts in Themes 1 and 2 and then build on this and apply their knowledge to more complex concepts and models in Themes 3 and 4. Students will need to apply their knowledge and understanding to both familiar and unfamiliar contexts in the assessments and demonstrate an awareness of current economic events and policies.

Theme 1: Introduction to markets and market failure. Theme 2: The UK economy - performance and policies. Theme 3: Business behaviour and the labour market. Theme 4: A global perspective.

PAPER 1
Markets and business behaviour *Paper code: 9EC0/01.

• Externally assessed • Availability: May/June • First assessment: 2017

35% of the total qualification.

PAPER 2
The national and global economy *Paper code: 9EC0/02.

• Externally assessed • Availability: May/June • First assessment: 2017

35% of the total qualification.

PAPER 3
Microeconomics and macroeconomics *Paper code: 9EC0/03.

• Externally assessed • Availability: May/June • First assessment: 2017

30% of the total qualification.

What can I do once I’ve completed the course?

Naturally studying Economics at A-level lends itself to carrying on this course of study at degree level. However the wider benefits of studying economics students include an understanding of how the government works out problems with finance, employment and different worldwide issues. A student of economics will be able to relate real world scenarios of the past to the things that are taking place in the world today.

Sixth Form Business at Tabor Academy

At Tabor Academy, our Sixth Form courses help students build the skills they need for the modern business world. We offer two great choices at Key Stage 5: the academic Edexcel A-Level and the practical Pearson BTEC National. Both options give students the financial skills, sharp thinking, and work experience needed to move on to university or top degree apprenticeships.

A-Level Business (Pearson Edexcel)

The curriculum framework at Tabor Academy combines academic rigour with twenty-first-century skills to help students master modern corporate environments and entrepreneurial strategy. Learner’s study operational structures, financial forecasting, and data analysis whilst developing workplace skills like decision-making, problem-solving, and teamwork. Rather than just learning from textbooks, students research real business case studies and connect daily news events to boardroom strategies. This fosters a mature A-Level mindset focused on independent research and self-motivation. Ultimately, these analytical skills provide an ideal launchpad for specialised university degrees or elite degree apprenticeships. Graduates enter the global workforce with the practical financial and strategic literacy needed to step forward confidently.

Curriculum Implementation

The Pearson Edexcel Level 3 Advanced GCE in Business is taught over two years. The course progressively builds in complexity, moving from local and national operational foundations to high-level international strategy.

• Year 1: Foundations of Business (Themes 1 & 2): Year 1 introduces the core operational functions of business, focusing on how companies set up, survive, and compete.
• Year 2: Strategic and Global Business (Themes 3 & 4): Year 2 shifts to a wider corporate viewpoint, exploring complex global markets and corporate changes.
•  

A-Level Business Course Structure (Pearson Edexcel)

External Examination Structure

Assessment occurs at the end of Year 13 through three written examination papers –

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National in Business

At Tabor Academy, our curriculum framework for the Pearson BTEC Level 3 National in Business combines vocational exploration with industry-standard professional practices to equip our students for today's dynamic corporate environments. Our learners investigate mandatory core areas including Unit 1: Exploring Business, Unit 2: Developing a Marketing Campaign, Unit 3: Personal and Business Finance, and Unit 8: Recruitment and Selection in Business. This comprehensive structure ensures our young people develop crucial employability skills such as financial planning, project management, collaborative teamwork, and professional presentation delivery.

Rather than relying purely on traditional examinations, we guide our students through real-world business scenarios using a balanced mix of internal assignment-based assessments, controlled tasks, and external exams. Performance across these modules accumulates into final qualification grades of Pass, Merit, Distinction, or Distinction*, rewarding consistent hard work and high-quality outcomes throughout the two-year course.

This vocational approach mirrors actual workplace challenges and connects daily corporate news directly to practical enterprise projects within our classrooms. Ultimately, this practical framework provides our students with an exceptional launchpad for specialised university degrees, Higher National Diplomas (HNDs), or elite degree apprenticeships. Our graduates enter the global workforce with the tangible, professional competencies and commercial literacy needed to step forward and progress confidently in their careers

Intent:

The Business department at Tabor Academy believes passionately in the subject they teach and feel that A-level and BTEC business are an important qualification to study in an ever-changing society. In the commercial world businesses range from single person ownership to large multinational corporations that have outlets and headquarters throughout the world. Our intent is very much that students can see the concepts and themes studied at play in the real world.

Our aims at KS5 are to:

• gain a holistic understanding of business in a range of contexts

• develop a critical understanding of organisations and their ability to meet society’s needs and wants

 • understand that business behaviour can be studied from a range of perspectives

 • generate enterprising and creative approaches to business opportunities, problems and issues

 • be aware of the ethical dilemmas and responsibilities faced by organisations and individuals

• acquire a range of relevant business and generic skills, including decision making, problem solving, the challenging of assumptions and critical analysis

 • apply numerical skills in a range of business contexts

. • Support students to become independent learners who can apply a range of ideas to business context

Implementation:       

Students are able to choose from a variety of courses to suit their needs such as A level and BTEC.

Creation of positive learning culture in Sixth form study spaces where students can complete their studies independently or collaboratively in an atmosphere of safety and purpose.

Students develop their interest in and enthusiasm for Business and gain an understanding of a wide range of factors which affect businesses including the business environment, marketing, finance and human resources. 

Students are taught to make effective use of data to inform, analyse and evaluate their knowledge and understanding which will enables them to access the world of work outside of the school environment with extra skills, confidence and critical mind

Impact

Students develop the knowledge and skills needed to analyse data, think critically about issues and make informed decisions – all skills that are needed for further study and employment

Learners gain a deep understanding of the many business skills at KS5 and relate their learning to a wide range of careers and higher education prerequisites.