In Business from KS4 to KS5, the aim is to develop students’ understanding of the main aspects of business operations, including HR, finance, marketing and operations.  With this knowledge, students practise forming arguments and making decisions and recommendations based on material seen for the first time and using their increasing awareness of current issues in the business world.  The courses serve as a helpful introduction to Business courses at higher levels and work-based routes, both of which are popular amongst our students.

At KS5, there is the option for students to specialise further by taking Economics or Finance in the Sixth Form.

GCSE Overview

Students are taught the following topics in Years 9 to 11:

• Enterprise and entrepreneurship
• Spotting a business opportunity
• Putting a business idea into practice
• Making the business effective. Understanding external influences on business
• Growing the business
• Making marketing decisions
• Making product decisions
• Making financial decisions
• Making human resource decisions

A-Level Overview

Students are taught the following topics in Years 12 and 13:

The A Level comprises 4 themes as follows:

Theme 1

• Meeting customer needs
• The market
• Marketing mix and strategy
• Managing people
• Entrepreneurs and leaders.

Theme 2

• Raising finance
• Financial planning
• Managing finance
• Resource management
• External influences

Theme 3

• Business objectives and strategy
• Business growth
• Decision-making techniques
• Influences on business decisions
• Assessing competitiveness
• Managing change

Theme 4

• Globalisation
• Global markets and business expansion
• Global marketing

Global industries and companies (multinational corporations)

Students have the opportunity to take part in a number of enterprise activities and competitions throughout the course, including the Student Investor Challenge involving teams of students investing in two portfolios of stocks.

Economics students also benefit from speakers visiting the school who in recent years have included entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and CEOs, as well as representatives of the Bank of England and large companies.

Students are encouraged to read a range of texts to further their own emerging areas of interest.

Details are published of summer school opportunities with leading universities and are regularly attended by Waddesdon students.

Students are able to take a free subscription to the Financial Times online.