Course Overview

?The Business A Level provides you with opportunities to develop important skills and relevant tools such as critical thinking, analysis and evaluation of businesses in their dynamic environments. Guest speakers are invited to the College and business trips are in place to identify, enhance and contextualise the learning.

Students study business in a variety of contexts, consider and discuss different types of businesses in various industries, nationally as well as internationally. Furthermore, correlations and relationships of business activities and functions will be analysed throughout both years.

Competitiveness and its impact on markets is an essential topic of this A Level subject. When analysing the business environment, we will review and evaluate social, ethical and environmental issues. The various factors that influence decision-making daily (short vs. long-run) will be considered by researching and discussing business and industry examples. Overall, by reviewing data (quantitative and qualitative), external and internal influences, you will get to know how a business is run, how and why decisions are made.

Topics include:

• What is business?
• Managers, leadership and decision making
• Analysing the strategic position of a business
• Choosing the strategic direction
• Strategic methods
• Managing strategic change

Assessment Methods

You will be assessed through written examinations, with regular internal assessment taking place as the course unfolds.

Your final A Level exam will be made up of three exam papers covering the entire programme at the end of year two.

Progression Options

Students who have gained this qualification have gone onwards to many of the top universities such as, Oxford/Cambridge, Exeter, Manchester, Cardiff, Bristol and LSE. Many are studying law, finance and various specialised business subjects such as logistics, marketing and PR.