Business Studies

Our Vision for Business Studies at HEA

At Huish Episcopi, our Business and Economics curriculum helps students make informed choices and aim high in their future careers. We offer a broad and balanced programme that combines academic challenge with real-world relevance, preparing students for further study, employment, and life in a changing world.

From GCSE to A-level, students explore exciting topics like entrepreneurship, globalisation, sustainability, and politics. These subjects spark curiosity and develop critical thinking, helping students understand the world around them. We connect learning to real experiences through case studies, employer visits, and industry links.

Our curriculum reflects both national developments and the needs of our rural community. We highlight local opportunities, especially in growing sectors like nuclear energy and electric vehicles, helping students see clear pathways to high-value careers.

Whether students choose university, apprenticeships, or work, they gain essential skills in communication, analysis, and financial awareness. We also teach practical knowledge about employment rights and business structures, building ambition, resilience, and respect.

Literacy is central to our teaching. We help students become confident readers, writers, and speakers—skills that support success in business and beyond.

Our teachers adapt lessons to help everyone achieve their best. We want all students to leave our department with confidence, purpose, and the ability to shape their futures with kindness and ambition.

Key Themes and Concepts

Key Concepts	Key Skills Development
Business Foundations Marketing Finance Operations Human Resources External Environment	Analytical thinking Numerical and financial literacy Communication and presentation Decision-making and strategic planning

Curriculum Overview

Year 10

Year 10
Autumn 1	Enterprise, Entrepreneurship and Spotting a Business Opportunity: Students will be able to understand the characteristics of an entrepreneur and understand how to satisfy customer needs through market research and segmentation.
Autumn 2
Spring 1	Putting Business Ideas into Practice and Making the Business Effective: Students will understand business aims and objectives and understand how to calculate revenue, costs and profits. Students will also discover the needs of a business plan and the marketing mix.
Spring 2
Summer 1	Understanding External Influences on Business: Students will understand what can impact a business with strong links to the real world. They will understand law, legislation, and the economy. Students will also prepare for the Year 10 mock exam.
Summer 2

Year 11

Year 11
Autumn 1	Growing the Business and Making Marketing Decisions: Students will understand what is required to expand their business and how to market effectively.
Autumn 2
Spring 1	Making Operational and Finance Decisions and HR: Students will understand how to work with suppliers, manage the quality of production and how to recruit employees effectively.
Spring 2
Summer 1	Calculations and Exam Preparation: Students will look into key calculations in the world of business such as interest rates, exchange rates and profit margins. Preparation for the Year 11 GCSE examination. (2 papers)
Summer 2

Year 12

Year 12
Autumn 1	What is business? Managing Marketing and Finance: Business and objectives Forms of business and stakeholders Marketing management Financial management
Autumn 2
Spring 1	Managing People and Operations: People management Operations management
Spring 2
Summer 1	Managing Business Culture
Summer 2

Year 13

Year 13
Autumn 1	Analysing the Strategic Position of a Business: Mission, corporate objectives, functional objectives and strategy. Analysing the existing internal position of a business to assess strengths and weaknesses: financial ratio analysis. Analysing the existing internal position of a business to assess strengths and weaknesses: overall performance. Analysing the external environment to assess opportunities and threats: political and legal change. Analysing the external environment to assess opportunities and threats: economic change. Analysing the external environment to assess opportunities and threats: social and technological. Analysing the external environment to assess opportunities and threats: the competitive environment. Analysing strategic options: investment appraisal.
Autumn 2
Spring 1	Choosing Strategic Direction: Strategic direction: choosing which markets to compete in and what products to offer. Strategic positioning: choosing how to compete. Strategic Methods: How to Pursue Strategies: Assessing a change in scale Assessing innovation
Spring 2	Strategic Methods: How to Pursue Strategies: Assessing globalisation and internationalisation Assessing greater use of digital technology
Summer 1	Formulae and Exam Preparation Students practice use of key business formulae. Preparation for the Year 13 A-Level examination. (3 papers)
Summer 2

Assessment

	Autumn Term	Spring Term	Summer Term
Year 10	End of Unit Assessments.	End of Unit Assessments.	End of Unit Assessment. End of Year 10 Examination – Theme 1, full past paper examination.
Year 11	End of Unit Assessments. Mock Exam – Theme 1.	End of Unit Assessments. Mock Exam – Theme 2.	Public Examinations.
Year 12	Mid-Unit and End of Unit Assessments.	Mid-Unit and End of Unit Assessments.	Mid-Unit and End of Unit Assessments. End of Year Examinaton - Full Paper 1 Examination.
Year 13	Mid-Unit and End of Unit Assessments. Mock Examination 1 – Full Paper 1 and Paper 2.	Mid-Unit and End of Unit Assessments. Mock Exam 2 - Full Paper 3.	Public Examinations.

Exam Board Link(s)

KS4

Edexcel: Edexcel GCSE Business (2017) | Pearson qualifications

KS5

AQA: Business | Subjects | AQA

Extracurricular Opportunities

Real-World Connections

Throughout the year, students meet local entrepreneurs who visit the school to share their experiences and answer questions. These sessions give students valuable insights into the challenges and rewards of running a business.

GCSE Enrichment

During the two-year GCSE course, students are offered a residential enrichment visit. Previous trips have included Cadbury World and Alton Towers, combining business education with fun and memorable experiences.

A Level Enrichment

Across the A Level course, students take part in day trips to local businesses such as:

Thatcher’s Cider Farm
Hinkley Point Nuclear Power Station
OVO Energy Head Office

Depending on student numbers, a residential trip may also be offered to further enrich their understanding of business in the real world.

Careers

Where can Business Studies qualifications take you?

Careerpilot: Jobs by subject

Jobs that use Business Studies

Possible linked future careers;

Entrepreneurship
Management consulting
Financial services/Corporate finance
Financial service
Human resources

Learning Beyond the Curriculum

Wider Reading and Research

https://www.tutor2u.net/business/blog - Regular updates on business news, exam tips, and topic analysis. Ideal for linking theory to current events.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business - Trusted source for up-to-date business stories and global trends
https://www.ft.com/companies - In-depth coverage of markets, companies, and economic policy. Excellent for developing analytical skills.
https://www.economist.com - Offers global perspectives on business, economics, and politics. Great for critical thinking and essay writing.

Podcasts for Business Students

BBC Business Daily - Covers global business news, trends, and economic shifts. Great for staying current and linking theory to real-world events. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p002vsnk
Business Wars – Dramatic stories of rival companies battling for market dominance—perfect for understanding strategy and competition. https://wondery.com/shows/business-wars
The Diary of a CEO – Steven Bartlett – Honest, motivational interviews with entrepreneurs and leaders. Offers insight into mindset, resilience, and leadership. https://www.youtube.com/@TheDiaryOfACEO

Books for A Level Business Students

How I Made It by Rachel Bridge – Real-life stories from 40 entrepreneurs who turned ideas into millions. Learn how they spotted market gaps and built unique selling propositions.
The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell – A fascinating look at how small changes can lead to big business breakthroughs. Great for understanding market trends and consumer behaviour.
The Google Story by David A. Vise – Discover how Google’s culture and innovation strategies helped it dominate the tech world. Includes insights into leadership and workplace design.
Business Stripped Bare by Sir Richard Branson – Branson’s autobiography is a bold, adventurous journey through entrepreneurship, risk-taking, and brand building.
The Toyota Way by Jeffrey Liker – Learn about Japanese management techniques like Kaizen and Total Quality Management—key concepts in operations and efficiency.

Huish Episcopi