The course is the WJEC Buisness Studies. GCSE Business Studies is a dynamic subject as the business environment is constantly changing and this is what makes the subject so exciting to study. Current case studies are often utilised in the classroom and students are encouraged to keep up to date with business in the news by reading broadsheets and watching TV programmes such as “The Apprentice” and “Dragon’s Den”.

In studying GCSE Business Studies students learn how businesses of different sizes and ownership operate and make a profit. Different types of businesses that exist are studied and how different departments in businesses work. In particular there is a focus on the following department areas: marketing, production, human resources and finance and accounts.

Assessment is by one controlled assessment that accounts for 25% of the final mark and one examination paper, both of which will be targeted at the full range of GCSE grades. There are compulsory short answer questions and some questions which will require extended writing to assess the quality of written communication. The Controlled Assessment for Business Studies is worth 25% of the overall GCSE mark and replaces coursework. The assessment will centre on the topics of recruitment and training methods in business and is internally assessed and controlled. Students will be given information, from the exam board, on a given business situation, which will consist of written and numerical data. Students are then required to complete three tasks, called investigations, in a controlled setting.