What is unique about Sixth Form Business Studies

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What is unique about Sixth Form Business Studies ?

• Our teachers have one to one tutorials with their
  pupils.
• Our classes are small.
• We understand our pupils
• Our pupils have already been successful in their
  GCSE results
• We are able to release their full potential

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What will you learn about?

• Business is changing business practices are
  becoming more diverse. Today there are new paths
  to success in business as well-trodden academic
  routes. The image of the businessman or woman is
  also transforming. Todays new entrepreneur may
  not have been out of school for many months,
  indeed, may not even have left.
• Businesses are having to adapt to these pressures
  and recruit ever more carefully. However,
  students who can already demonstrate aptitude and
  talent have an advantage. AS and A2 Business can
  give learners a valuable head start.

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2008 Business Results

• AS
• 25 Grade A
• 75 Grade A B
• 100 Grade A C

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2008 Business Results

• A2
• 20 Grade A B
• 40 Grade A C
• 100 Grade A- D

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What about the Business Course?

• Our year 10 and 11 business pupils follow the AQA
  GCSE Business Course
• Our year 12 and 13 follow a natural progression
  onto the AQA GCE Business Course

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• Getting Started with AS/A2
• GCE Applied Business

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Outline

• Internal assessment at AS Level
• Illustrating assessment of Unit 1
• The demands of the externally-assessed AS units
• Internal assessment at A2 level
• Illustrating assessment of Unit 8
• The demands of the externally-assessed A2 units

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Internal assessment at AS (1)

• Candidates are required to Produce a portfolio
  of work which
• a) Describes the background to the investigation
  or practical activity (A01)
• b) Produces outcomes from the investigation or
  practical activity (A02)
• c) Analyses research to inform the investigation
  or practical activity (A03)
• d) Demonstrates judgement in relation to the
  investigation or practical activity (A04).

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Internal assessment at AS (2)

• These are requirements and not separate tasks
  within a portfolio
• They cover the four assessment objectives
• A01 Knowledge, skills and understanding
• A02 Application of knowledge, skills and
  understanding
• A03 Research and analysis
• A04 Evaluation
• Each A0 is given a separate mark using levels of
  response schemes

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Interpreting the assessment grids

• The following diagram illustrates the
  relationship between the four requirements

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Unit 1 portfolio requirements (1)

• Each student should
• Provide a detailed description of the aims and
  objectives of the business
• Investigate a business which enables them to
  research the three key components (marketing
  activities, enterprise skills and teams)
• Use concepts in context to the business being
  investigated
• Judgement to be based on how the business has
  achieved its aims and objectives evaluating key
  factors contributing to this.

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Unit 1 portfolio requirements (2)

• DO NOT
• Use theory throughout the portfolio eg on teams
• Expect candidates to have equal coverage of the
  three key components (marketing activities,
  enterprise skills and teams)

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The externally-assessed AS units (1)

• Common features between Units 3, 4 and 5
• Stepped level of difficulty
• Levels of response mark schemes
• Lowest level of response reserved for generic
  knowledge and responses out of context
• Specific questions targeting quality of written
  communication (identified on front page of each
  paper)

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The externally-assessed AS units (2)

• Unit 3 Financial Planning and Monitoring
• 1 hour examination
• Pre-released material
• Research task 1 informs Q1 on paper
• Research task 2 informs Q4 on paper

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Internal Assessment at A2

• Candidates are required to Produce a portfolio
  of work which
• A Explains the background to the investigation or
  practical activity (A01)
• B Produces outcomes from the investigation or
  practical activity (A02)
• C Analyses research to inform the investigation
  or practical activity (A03)
• D Demonstrates judgement and evaluation in
  relation to the investigation or practical
  activity (A04)

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The Assessment Objectives
B (AO2)
D (AO4)
A (AO1)
Defining the purpose and parameters of the
proposal/plan
A developed proposal/plan
Demonstrating evaluation in relation to B
C (AO3)
Research and analysis needed to inform A, B and D
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Unit 8 portfolio requirements (1)

• Each student should
• Construct and use SMART objectives
• Base their business plan on an organisation
  (profit or not-for-profit business) which isnt
  too complex or simplistic
• Consider what-if scenarios and contingency
  plans
• Use concepts in context

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Unit 8 portfolio requirements (1)

• Each student should
• Construct and use SMART objectives
• Base their business plan on an organisation
  (profit or not-for-profit business) which isnt
  too complex or simplistic
• Consider what-if scenarios and contingency
  plans
• Use concepts in context

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Unit 8 portfolio requirements (2)

• DO NOT
• Limit your candidates investigations to start-up
  businesses candidates can investigate existing
  businesses seeking to diversify
• Allow candidates to investigate large scale
  operations

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The externally-assessed A2 units

• Unit 11 The Marketing Environment
• Unit 12 Managing People
• Unit 15 Financial Accounting for Managers
• All 1½ hour examinations
• All based on unseen material