Business and Economics
We are a small department, who teach only examined subjects across the whole spectrum of abilities. We embrace all students and actively encourage them to achieve their best through engagement with the subject due to teaching staff’s enthusiasm and knowledge. We support all students and have a belief that everyone will be part of the UK economy and businesses in the future and that an understanding will benefit their future employment and lives.
Why choose to come to our school for this subject?
The subject is taught by three subject specialists who have over 50 years teaching experience between them. We pride ourselves on our support for students and our focus on added value – getting students to push themselves against their aspirations rather than a pure focus on the top grades. We work exceptionally hard as a team to ensure the best outcomes and have strong relationships with students, who often stay in touch long after their education at Silverdale School has finished.
GCSE Business and economics
(EDEXCEL EXAM BOARD)
What will you learn?
Unit 1 Content overview – Investigating Small Businesses:
- Topic 1.1 Enterprise and entrepreneurship
- Topic 1.2 Spotting a business opportunity
- Topic 1.3 Putting a business idea into practice
- Topic 1.4 Making the business effective
- Topic 1.5 Understanding external influences on business.
Unit 2 Content overview- Building a Business:
- Topic 2.1 Growing the business
- Topic 2.2 Making marketing decisions
- Topic 2.3 Making operational decisions
- Topic 2.4 Making financial decisions
- Topic 2.5 Making human resource decisions.
How will this be assessed?
The course is assessed via two 105 minute exams which are undertaken at the end of Y11.
The papers will consist of calculations, multiple-choice, short-answer and extended-writing questions.
beyond the classroom
Throughout the year we run The Big Challenge competition. This is an enterprise competition open to all secondary schools and colleges in Sheffield. Each team has the opportunity to design and grow a business from a £25 start up grant over two school terms. We have had many successful businesses over the years.
In 2018 our students won the competition with Weasel Hosting, a web-hosting company. They won a trip to Copenhagen.
In 2018 2017 our Year 10 students, Maylenbeth Candle Co, were the Key Stage 4 winners. Students in both Year 10 and 12 are encouraged to enter this competition. There is a weekly meeting held where we discuss crucial aspects of setting up your own business such as finance, branding, communication and teamwork. Students from Hallam University support teams on a weekly basis building a bond and utilising their business skills.
Trips
| Year | Where | When |
|---|---|---|
| Year 10 | Cadburyworld (studying marketing) |
Third half term |
| Year 11 | Alton Towers (studying stakeholders) |
First half term |
| Year 12 | Jaguar (investigating lean production) |
Third half term |
future pathways
Business Studies can link to a wide range of opportunities, anywhere you may want to work in the future will be a business, so this is good preparation. A good grade at GCSE will allow you to study A-level Business and Economics, and Vocational Business A-levels. The skills learnt including ICT, presentation skills, numeracy and literacy can be applied to a variety of different subjects for further study.
Many students have used their skills to work in a variety of careers linked to Business and Economics and beyond– from finance to marketing, sales to law, banking to setting up their own business. Alumni include the CEO of Deciem, an Investment Banker at Morgan Stanley, owners of Năm Sông café in Broomhill, the MD of Resolve IT Solutions, the Marketing Manager at HD Sports Sheffield, as well as teachers, accountants, and postgraduate academics.