Business Studies is a dynamic, versatile and real-life subject and it provides students with a distinctive insight into the world of work. The department offers both GCSE Business and Communication Systems and GCE Professional Business Services. These two courses help students to engage actively in the study of business and digital technology in order to develop as effective and independent learners and critical and reflective thinkers with enquiring minds. 

GCSE

Students who study GCSE Business and Communication Systems will follow the CCEA Specification.  Business and Communication Systems is an exciting and practical subject that recognises how ICT is in the foreground of all business activities.

What will I study?

Unit 1 – Software Applications for Business

Software applications play a vital role in business.  They add value by increasing efficiency and they can reduce the amount of time tasks take and improve record keeping.  They can also enhance the ways in which businesses communicate with their stakeholders.  These include: File management, Common software application tasks, Word processing software, Spreadsheet software, Database software, Presentation software, Web authoring software, Internet searching and Email software.

Unit 1 – is a computer-based examination of 2 hour’s duration and will test your ICT skills in a business context.  This examination is worth 40% of the overall GCSE qualification. 

Unit 2 – The Business Environment

Students will gain a broad introduction to the business world.  They learn about recruitment, selection, training and marketing as well as the implications of digital technology for business.  These include: Types of business ownership, Stakeholders, Communication, Digital trading, Recruitment, Selection, Training, Implications of digital technology for business and customers, Marketing, Market Research and the Marketing mix.

The written examination for Unit 2 is 1 hour.  This examination paper is worth 35% of the overall GCSE qualification.

Unit 3 – Developing Digital SolutionsStudents use the skills they have developed in Units 1 and 2 to plan and develop a digital

solution for a business.  This unit is synoptic; it tests students’ understanding of the connections between the different elements of the subject. 

This unit is assessed through controlled assessment and is worth 25% of the overall GCSE qualification.

A Level

Students who study GCE Professional Business Services will follow the CCEA Specification.  This specification introduces students to a wide selection of topics relevant to prospective professional business service providers operating in Northern Ireland, the UK and beyond.  The course is an industry-endorsed specification, appropriate for school leavers considering entry into bespoke business training programmes or apprenticeships as well as those seeking progression to relevant higher and further education programmes.

What will I study?

Unit AS1 – Introduction to Professional Business Services

This unit introduces students to the environment that professional business services firms operate in.  It establishes the nature of the service they provide for clients.  Students also investigate the consultancy process professional business services firms use. They explore the range of techniques they adopt to inform and formulate the advice they provide to their clients.  They also explore the broader context of the professional services market to enhance their understanding.  These include:  The business environment. The professional business services sector, The consultancy process, Understanding the client’s market, Client relationships, Business ethics, Persuading and influencing, Techniques for business planning, Risk management and Government regulation.

Assessment for this unit is a 1 hour 30-minute written examination.  It is worth 12% of the GCE qualification.

Unit AS2 – Human Resource Services

In this unit, students focus on the services provided by professional business services firms to support human resources in a client business.  Students explore the need for effective human resources management in a business.  They also investigate how professional business services firms can advise clients on improvements to their human resources processes in: organisational structure and culture, recruitment, learning and development, employee well-being, employee motivation and managing conflict.

This is an internally assessed unit and CCEA moderate it.  It is worth 16% of the GCE qualification.

Unit AS3 – Financial Decision Making

This unit focuses on the services provided by professional business services firms to support financial decision making within a client business.  Students explore the sources of finance available to a business and key areas of good financial management.
These include: Introduction to financial decision making, Finance management, Budgeting, Cash flow, Financial statements, Ratio analysis for decision making, Investment appraisal and Financial decision making process.

Assessment for this unit is a 1 hour 30-minute written examination.  It is worth 12% of the GCE qualification.

Unit A21 – Technology in Business

This unit, students focus on the technology services that professional business services firms provide to support business operations in a client business.  Students explore the range of technology and Information Technology (IT) systems available for communications, managing people, financial management and business operations.  They also examine the issues professional business services firms must consider when advising a client on business technology, including security, data storage, and social, moral and ethical issues.
Assessment for this unit is a 2 hour written examination.  It is worth 18% of the GCE qualification.

Unit A22 – Leadership and Management

In this unit, students examine the key concepts of leadership and management and a range of leadership styles and theories. They investigate how professional business services firms can advise client businesses to meet some of the challenges of management, including performance management, managing teams and managing change.

Assessment for this unit is a 2 hour written examination.  It is worth 18% of the GCE qualification.

Unit A23 – Project Management Skills and Processes

In this unit, students explore the stages and processes involved in successful project management.  They examine the components of project management methodology and apply this methodology to a specific project.  Students take on the role of the project manager and provide individual evidence to meet the assessment criteria.

This is an internally assessed unit and CCEA moderate it.  It is worth 24% of the GCE qualification.

Extra-curricular

The Business Studies Department takes part in various Young Enterprise activities.  Young Enterprise is a national charity who specialise in enterprise education.  Young Enterprise works directly with young people, teachers, volunteers to build a successful and sustainable future for all young people.  

As an aside to dealing with business we offer students an opportunity to participate in the Chess club.  Chess has been linked to improving student’s concentration, problem solving, critical, original and creative thinking all the necessary traits to be successful in the world of business.

Where to next?

GCE Professional Business Services is a versatile subject. It can be used in many career paths.  It is a particularly good subject for those wishing to study:  Business Studies; Actuarial, Law or a combination of Business Studies and another subject e.g. French; Accountancy; International Business; Marketing; Teaching; Law; Logistics; History; Religion; Medicine; Dentistry; Administration; Librarianship; Personnel Management; Management Consultancy; Local government; Retail Buying; Banking and Finance; Trading.  Consequently, the range of employment options open to students with this qualification is limitless, even extending to managing your own business.