Arthur Mellows Village College

Delivering learning for life within an aspirational culture

Business, Enterprise and Economics

The aim of the department is to develop in our students the skills, qualities, attitudes, knowledge and understanding which are valued by both employers and further education and also equip them for the challenges, opportunities and responsibilities of adult and working life.

Our objectives are to:

  • Provide an insight into business, enterprise and economics
  • Encourage student centred learning
  • Develop business skills in marketing, human resources, finance and operations management
  • Develop communication, numeracy and ICT skills
  • Raise awareness of Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural aspects of business and the economy. 

The department is made up of highly experienced teaching staff who also have a varied professional business background. The team work very closely together to create a friendly working environment in which each student is encouraged to be successful and to maximise his or her potential.

The department is well resourced and based in four ‘Business’ classrooms. Each room has a projector, interactive white board and networked PCs or the use of department Chromebooks.

Working as a team the department share ideas and take responsibility for curriculum planning, organisation and administration. This enables all members of staff to have an input into the running of the department as well as ensuring professional development.

ICT is integrated within all courses. The aim is to enrich the learning experience, promote independent learning and to help students become confident and proficient in the use of ICT. The main software used is Microsoft Office which includes Word, Excel and PowerPoint. A wide range of business education sites on the Internet and College Intranet are also used to support student learning.

The department offers the following Key Stage 4 courses for students in Years 10 and 11:

GCSE BUSINESS

This course is made up of 2 themes:

  1. Investigate small business
  2. Building a business

Each theme is assessed via an exam set by the exam board.

GCSE ECONOMICS

The course is made up of 2 units:

  • How the Market Works – an investigation into the economic problem, how markets in capitalist economies work and how firms operate in competitive markets.
  • How the Economy Works – an investigation into how governments in capitalist economies attempt to achieve growth, full employment, price stability and the redistribution of income

Each unit is assessed via an exam set by the exam board.

The department offers the following Key Stage 5 courses for students in Years 12 and 13.

BTEC EXTENDED CERTIFICATE IN BUSINESS (EQUIVALENT OF 1 A LEVEL)

The course is made up of 4 units

  • Unit 1 – Exploring Business (Internal Assignment Assessment)
  • Unit 2 – Developing a Marketing Campaign (Controlled Assessment)
  • Unit 3 – Personal and Business Finance (Externally Assessed Exam)
  • Unit 27 – Work Experience in Business (Internal Assignment Assessment plus 40 hours Work Experience)

BTEC FOUNDATION DIPLOMA IN BUSINESS (EQUIVALENT OF 1.5 A LEVELS)

Students study the Extended Certificate units above, plus the 2 additional units below:

  • Unit 8 – Recruitment and Selection (Internal Assignment Assessment)
  • Unit 4 – Managing an Event (Internal Assignment Assessment)

BTEC EXTENDED DIPLOMA IN BUSINESS (EQUIVALENT OF 3 A LEVELS)

Students study the Extended Certificate and Foundation Diploma units above, plus the additional 7 units below:

  • Unit 19 - Pitching a New Business
  • Unit 5 - International Business
  • Unit 9 - Ream Building in Business
  • Unit 6 - Principles of Management
  • Unit 7 - Business Decision Making
  • Unit 21 - Effective Management of Personal Debt
  • Unit 22 - Market Research

A LEVEL BUSINESS

The course is made up of 4 themes:

  1. Marketing and People
  2. Managing Business Activities
  3. Business Decisions and Strategy
  4. Global Business

Themes are assessed via 3 examinations set by the exam board which together make up the A Level.

A LEVEL ECONOMICS

This course is made up of 2 units:

  1. Individuals, firms, markets and market failure
  • Economic methodology and the economic problem
  • Individual economic decision making
  • Price determination in a competitive market
  • Production, costs and revenue
  • Perfect competition, imperfectly competitive markets and monopoly
  • The labour market
  • The distribution of income and wealth: poverty and inequality
  • The market mechanism, market failure and government intervention in markets
  1. The national and international economy
    • The measurement of macroeconomic performance
    • How the macroeconomy works: the circular flow of income, AD/AS analysis, and related concepts
    • Economic performance
    • Financial markets and monetary policy
    • Fiscal policy and supply-side policies
    • The international economy

The course content is assessed through 3 examinations set by the exam board which together make the A Level award.