Business
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Business at Northallerton School & Sixth Form College develops commercially aware, analytical and enterprising students who understand how organisations operate within local, national and global contexts. Students explore how businesses:
The curriculum is carefully sequenced to build from foundational enterprise and marketing concepts at GCSE to deeper economic, strategic and human resource management understanding at KS5. Assessment includes externally examined units and coursework components. Question Level Analysis (QLA), mock examinations and targeted exam practice inform responsive teaching and bespoke intervention. Independent learning includes case study research, structured revision, coursework drafting and exam-style question practice. |
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Key Stage 3
There is no KS3 provision for Business. Students opt for the subject at GCSE.
Key Stage 4 – GCSE Business
Students study core business principles including:
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Business activity and enterprise
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Marketing
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Operations
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Finance
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Human resources
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External influences
The curriculum builds commercial understanding alongside exam technique and case study analysis.
Responsive Curriculum & QLA
Regular extended-response practice strengthens evaluation and application skills. Mock exam QLA informs reteaching of calculation methods, command words and structured analysis.
KS4 Curriculum Overview
| Term | Year 10 | Year 11 |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn 1 | Business Activity & Enterprise | Operations |
| Autumn 2 | Legal Structures & Finance | Finance |
| Spring 1 | Marketing | Finance & Trial Exams |
| Spring 2 | Marketing (Extended) | Revision & Exam Practice |
| Summer 1 | People in Business | External Influences |
| Summer 2 | Operations & Review | Final Examination Preparation |
Year 11 includes structured revision cycles, targeted exam practice and bespoke intervention to secure strong outcomes.
Sixth Form – Business
Business is offered at KS5 through a vocational pathway combining examined and coursework units.
Students study units including:
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Unit 1 – The Business Environment (examined)
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Unit 2 – Working in Business (examined)
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Unit 4 – Customers and Communication (coursework)
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Unit 8 – Introduction to Human Resources (coursework)
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Unit 19 – International Business
The course develops analytical depth, commercial awareness and applied professional skills through case studies, presentations and project-based coursework.
Students are expected to demonstrate independent research, structured evaluation and professional communication.
KS5 Curriculum Overview
| Term | Year 12 | Year 13 |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn 1 | Unit 1 – The Business Environment | Unit 8 – Introduction to Human Resources |
| Autumn 2 | Unit 1 – The Business Environment | Unit 8 – Coursework Development |
| Spring 1 | Unit 2 – Working in Business | Unit 2 – Working in Business |
| Spring 2 | Unit 4 – Customers & Communication | Unit 19 – International Business |
| Summer 1 | Unit 4 – Coursework Completion | Unit 19 – Coursework Completion |
| Summer 2 | Exam Preparation & Mock Exams | Final Assessment & Work Experience |
Literacy, Careers and Personal Development
Vocabulary
Students develop precise disciplinary terminology including revenue, profit margin, break-even, economies of scale, liquidity, leadership style and globalisation.
Knowledge Organisers
Each unit includes structured glossaries and retrieval materials to secure key theory and calculation methods.
