Academic/Subject Departments
Business Studies
Every organisation, no matter how big or small, experiences similar problems.
It needs to make the right decisions about its present and future activities, organise itself internally so that it is able to achieve its objectives, market its products, motivate its people and manage its finances. All of this must not only be done within the constraints of the organization but must take into account the political, legal, economic and sociological forces within the UK, the EU and the global market place.
On the GCSE Business Studies course, pupils are given an opportunity to study the theories and concepts that underpin businesses and the economy. Interactive teaching is encouraged and group role play and simulation exercises are used to develop communication skills, team building skills and confidence. We aim to encourage the spirit of enterprise from an early age and participate in many independent learning activities such as the Coca Cola Marketing Challenge and the Sheffield Enterprise Business Simulation competition. Our students have enjoyed much success in these competitions and are currently South Yorkshire Coca Cola Marketing Champions.
At AS-level the emphasis is on developing a firm foundation of business concepts. Students learn about the reasons individual organisations and societies have to make choices and how competitive markets work. In addition they look at the wider economy from a national and international perspective.
At A2, these topics are logically extended to larger organisations, with the emphasis on Strategies for Business Success. The central theme is that of Managing Change, including topics such as globalisation, leadership and corporate culture.
Business Studies encourages candidates to acquire a range of important and transferable skills:
- Data skills. Students are expected to manipulate data in a variety of forms and to interpret their results
- Presenting arguments, making judgments and justifying recommendations on the basis of the available evidence
- Recognising the nature of problems, solving problems and making decisions using appropriate business tools and methods
- Planning work, taking into account the demands of the task and the time available to complete it
- Challenging their own assumptions using evidence that has become available
What about future prospects and careers?
Studying Business Studies offers a very diverse range of disciplines that might be studied at university such as:
- Administrative Management
- American Management Studies
- Arts Management
- Enterprise Management
- Business and Administration
- Business and Finance
- Business Computing
- Commerce
- European Business Administration
- European Business Studies
- Health Service Management
- Medical Record Keeping
- Organisation and Development
- Planning and Administration
- Science Laboratory Administration
- Secretarial Studies
- Accounting and Finance
- Certified Accountancy
- Chartered Accountancy
- Cost and Management Accountancy
- Internal Audit