Mrs J G Keeler (Head of Department)

Ms A Shepherd

At GCSE, the girls follow the Nuffield combined course in Business Studies and Economics validated by Edexcel. The course deals with domestic and international issues within Business and Economics ranging from competitiveness of local businesses to worldwide trade. There are six units:

1.Make or break?

2.Work or what?

3.Risk or Certainty?

4.Big or Small?

5.Create or Destroy?

6.Winners or Losers?

Study of this subject compliments Enterprise and Work related learning and adds depth to many of the topics studied in PSHE and Citizenship such as entrepreneurship and sustainable development. The assessment of the GCSE course comprises of two pieces of coursework (25%) and two written examinations, Problem Solving and Perspectives (75%).

High achievers in Year 10 have commenced study at AS Level this year and will be sitting their first unit examination in June.

At AS and A2 Level, the girls study the Nuffield combined course in Economics and Business, looking in greater depth at the business and economic theory underlying what is happening in the world of work. The girls develop higher level skills of applying knowledge in context, analysing and evaluating information and drawing conclusions. At this level 30% of the assessment is by coursework. This academic year we hope to visit Germany, in order to see international businesses working.

An additional offer this year is the opportunity for Sixth Form students to study AS Accounting in an after school club. Young Enterprise has been run very successfully at the school for a number of years and students also run the school shop.

Girls studying Business and Economics both at GCSE and above achieve well especially in terms of added value and many move onto Business courses at university or to careers in Management. The students benefit from a fully equipped computer suite as the base room and a wide variety of resources, both ICT and paper based. The Head of Department also acts as an A Level Examiner for Edexcel and this provides insight into what is required for high achievement.