Exam Board

OCR [GCSE 9-1 J204]

Specification

Business 01: Business activity, marketing and people

Students are introduced to business concepts and issues concerning the activities of a business. They explore the purpose and role of a business from spotting an opportunity through to the growth of an established business. They also look at the role of marketing and human resources.

Business 02: Operations, finance and influences on business

Students take a closer look at the role of operations and finance in business activity. Operations include production processes, quality of goods and services, customer service, and working with suppliers. Finance covers its role, its sources, costs, profit and loss, cash and cash flow.

They also explore how business responds to external influences, such as ethical and environmental considerations, the economic climate and globalisation, and the interdependent nature of business.

Curriculum Allocation

GCSE Business Studies is taught for three 100 minute lessons per fortnight.

Curriculum Period 1:

Curriculum content

Production processes 

  • Different production processes and their impact on businesses
  • The influence of technology on production and the impact on businesses

Quality of goods and services 

  • The concept of quality
  • Methods of ensuring quality
  • The importance of quality in both the production of goods and the provision of services

The sales process and customer service 

  • Methods of selling
  • The influence of e-commerce on business activity
  • The importance to a business of good customer service including after-sales service
  • The contribution of product knowledge and customer engagement to good customer service

Consumer Law 

  • The impact of consumer law on businesses

Business location 

  • Factors influencing business location

Working with suppliers 

  • The role of procurement
  • The impact of logistical and supply decisions on businesses

The role of the finance function 

  • The purpose of the finance function
  • The influence of the finance function on business activity

Sources of finance 

  • The reasons businesses need finance
  • Ways of raising finance
  • How and why different sources of finance are suitable for new and established businesses

Assessment

The first assessment will cover all sections above.


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    Curriculum Period 2:

    Curriculum content

    Revenue, costs, profit and loss 

    • The concept of revenue, costs and profit and loss in business and their importance in business decision-making
    • The different costs in operating a business
    • Calculation of costs and revenue
    • Calculation of profit/loss
    • Calculation and interpretation of profitability ratios
    • Calculation and interpretation of average rate of return

    Break-even 

    • The concept of break-even
    • Simple calculation of break-even quantity
    • The usefulness of break-even in business decision-making

    Cash and cash flow 

    • The importance of cash to a business
    • The difference between cash and profit
    • The usefulness of cash flow forecasting to a business
    • Completion of cash flow forecasts

    Ethical and environmental considerations 

    • Ethical considerations and their impact on businesses
    • Environmental considerations and their impact on businesses

    The economic climate 

    • The economic climate and its impact on businesses

    Globalisation 

    • The concept of globalisation
    • The impact of globalisation on businesses

    The interdependent nature of business 

    Assessment

    The second assessment will cover all sections above.

      Curriculum Period 3:

      Curriculum content

      Pupils will revise/revisit all topics for the upcoming Business Studies examinations in the summer.

      Assessment

      Pupils will sit both Paper 1 and Paper 2 examinations in the summer:

      1) Business 01: Business activity, marketing and people

      2) Business 02: Operations, finance and influences on business

      Both papers are written papers and last 90 minutes each


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      Revision resources

      Knowledge Organisers: endon.fireflycloud.net/business-studies-2/knowledge-organisers

      Recommended revision materials: endon.fireflycloud.net/business-studies-2/revision-guides

      Subject advice and guidance

      If you need any further guidance then please contact your child’s teacher via email:

      Mr Plant [r.plant@endon.shaw-education.org.uk]

      Mrs Brownsett [g.brownsett@endon.shaw-education.org.uk]

      Mr Jenkins [a.jenkins@endon.shaw-education.org.uk]