Business
At Aberdare Girls’ school we offer a variety of business studies courses at both GCSE level and GCE level.
Business studies is taught within a business studies suite of rooms in the upper school by two very experienced and committed members of staff. The rooms are fully equipped with a resource library and a room of networked computers. We have the benefit of an interactive whiteboard which is used extensively for both teaching and learning.
Courses on offer:
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GCSE Business Studies
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Entry Level Business Studies
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GCE Applied Business (Single award)
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GCE A level Business
We are also in the process of setting up a virtual company to enable other courses to be run via the work experience gained by pupils running their own business in a virtual environment.
The Business Studies department is also responsible for the following:
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World of Work Programme
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Work Experience
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Young Enterprise
GCSE BUSINESS STUDIES
GCSE Business Studies has been running very successfully at Aberdare girls’ school for a number of years.
The course is designed to develop pupils’ understanding of the way in which businesses operate in a dynamic, changing and competitive environment. The course contains unit of study in the following areas:
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The Business Environment
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The External Environment
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Business Structures and organisations
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People in Organisations
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Production
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Marketing
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Business Finance and Control
The course has become very popular and numbers are increasing all the time. Results are consistently pleasing and compare favourable with national averages.
Course Content
The course is divided into 2 separate areas
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The written exam – This takes place in the summer of year 11 and is worth 75% of the total mark
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The coursework – Pupils have to undertake a variety of business projects designed to set up their own business in the future. They have to investigate their potential market and then come up with an appropriate marketing strategy for that business. They will also investigate all the financial implications of the business and produce profit and loss accounts, cash flow forecasts as well as break even charts.
GCE APPLIED BUSINESS
GCE Applied Business is designed to be vocational and teach the practical skills required in Business as well as the content required within an A level.
The course is designed to develop pupils’ understanding of the way in which businesses operate in a dynamic, changing and competitive environment. The fundamental philosophy is that the course actively allows pupils to experience the business environment. This is done through case studies, links with local businesses as well as research and work experience.
The course contains units of study in the following areas for the AS Level:
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Investigating people at work
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Investigating Business
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Investigating Marketing
The A2 course is then very flexible with a number of different options available to choose from including:
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Investigating Electronic Business
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Investigating Customer Service
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Investigating Promotion
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Investigating Enterprise
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Organising An Event
The vocational course has become very popular and numbers are increasing all the time. Results are consistently pleasing and compare well with national averages.
Course Content
The course is divided into 2 separate areas
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External unit tests – These are written exams in 2 out of the 6 units
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Portfolio assignments make up the remaining assessment evidence. There will be a total of 4 portfolio assignments which will provide evidence of knowledge and understanding of the units of work. The evidence may take the form of a presentation or a detailed report.
GCE A LEVEL BUSINESS
A Level Business is currently being taught at Aberdare Boys’ School as part of the consortium agreement between schools in the area.
The course is designed to develop pupils’ understanding of the way in which businesses operate in a dynamic, changing and competitive environment. The course aims to develop a critical understanding of organisations, the markets they serve and the process of adding value. It involves the consideration of the internal workings and management of organisations and the process of decision making in a dynamic external environment.
Pupils will be aware of business behaviour and it is studied through the perspectives of stakeholders including customers, managers, creditors, shareholders / owners and employees.
The course contains units of study in the following areas for the AS Level:
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Marketing Accounting and Finance
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People and Operations Management
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External Influences, Objectives and Strategy
The A2 course then builds upon prior learning and revisits these main topic areas and examines them in more depth.
WORLD OF WORK PROGRAMME
This programme allows pupils to participate with their peers in events organised by Mid Glamorgan Education Business Partnership. This includes the following events:
YEAR 7 - Investigations into Industry
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Visitors into school
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Compact Goals
YEAR 8 - Investigating Industry
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Visits into Industry
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Compact Goals
YEAR 9 - Technology Project
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Reinforcement of Compact Goals
YEAR 10 - Focus on Industry
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Launch of the Compact Certificates
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Barclays Attendance Awards
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Work Experience
YEAR 11 - Focus on Manufacturing – Running a Business
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Compact Certificates
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Barclays Attendance Awards
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Cynon Valley Mock Interview Programme
YEAR 12 - Young Enterprise
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Work Experience
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Reading Schemes
YOUNG ENTERPRISE
Welcome to the Young Enterprise programme at Aberdare Girls’ School. There will be many opportunities for you to get involved with throughout the year, which will include trade fairs, training sessions and other events.
The mission of Young Enterprise is:
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To inspire and equip young people
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To learn and succeed
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Through Enterprise
The vision of Young Enterprise is:
"That all young people will have the opportunity to gain personal experience of how business works,
Understand the role it plays in providing employment and creating prosperity,and be inspired
to improve their own prospects, and the competitiveness of the UK."
If you are interested, please see Mrs Blatchford, Room 25 for further details
Useful Websites
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