In the fast-paced and exciting world of business, there are endless possibilities. This established and highly successful subject provides a good springboard into the dynamic world of business and appeals to a broad range of students with diverse interests. Businesses today operate in a challenging and global environment, understanding these issues and business theory is an advantage in many occupations.

Students studying three A Levels will be expected to have a minimum of two GCSEs at grade 6 and three GCSEs at grade 5/4, including English Language and Mathematics at grade 5/4 or above. Or eight GCSEs at a minimum of grade 5.

• What is business?

• Managers, leadership and decision making

• Decision making to improve marketing performance

• Decision making to improve operational performance

• Decision making to improve financial performance

• Decision making to improve human resource performance

• Analysing the strategic position of a business

• Choosing strategic direction

• Strategic methods: how to pursue strategies

• Managing strategic change

Business is a very popular and well established subject, as most people work in some form of business organisation. It is without doubt, one of the most important and relevant subjects to study. It combines well with almost any other subject and it is held in high regard by universities and employers. 

Throughout the course, you will develop transferable skills including the ability to problem solve, analyse and make evaluative judgements. You will apply theory and models to particular businesses and use real business news on most days to discuss what is going on in the real world and how the theories you have learned can apply to most companies in the news.

All assessment is completed via examination at the end of the second year. There are three exams of two hours each and the format is a combination of multiple choice, data response and extended written questions.

Exam Board: AQA

All A Level Business students will have the opportunity to gain Microsoft qualifications in MS Office applications including Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Word. These practical skills are highly sought after and valued by employers. Students will also have the opportunity to attend talks by external speakers from a range of different employers and organisations such as Bolton Council and The Bank of England and attend various trips and visits to various Businesses and Academic institutions.

There is an expectation to complete a minimum of a one-week placement in the Summer term. You will be proactive in finding a placement that will enable you to use your skills and to enrich your experience so that any applications for university or employment will show that you have good practical, as well as good academic levels of achievement. 

You can be assured of a warm welcome by our staff. The department prides itself on the guidance and support we give and all students are valued and included and encouraged to achieve their full potential. Visiting speakers are welcomed and bring their real life experiences to our classrooms. The course is taught by experienced staff; a number of our teachers are examiners in this subject and results are consistently high.

Successful students have progressed onto a variety of higher education courses including business, law, economics, accounting and marketing. Others have chosen to enter directly into employment in areas such as retail management and leisure and tourism. There are many opportunities for business related degree courses, higher apprenticeships or degree apprenticeships available.

Wider reading of the business news will be an important part of studying A Level Business. In particular, knowledge of organisations within the major sectors of the UK economy such as banking, retail, the car industry, the supermarket industry and the airline and travel industry will allow you to link current affairs to topics in the classroom and in your written answers.