Ethos

This department is proud of the contribution it makes to the students’ understanding of world events and trends, as we endeavour to deliver a live subject. Lessons use ICT to create a problem solving environment to enhance the skills required in the real economy.

Case studies are used to develop a challenging approach to understand business start up problems, trade, marketing, finance and the economic environment. The subject also explores the past in order to understand the future, attempting to forecast events as they should happen given that any study of human behaviour in a market context is going to be uncertain.

We have had outstanding success over 15 years in the National Young Enterprise Scheme reaching Kent finals and selling some really innovative products and services.

Years 10−11
We follow GCSE AQA syllabus studying the following: how to start up a business; problems such as finance and cash flow; product life cycle and marketing; trade and exchange rates; government influence and international markets; and medium to large scale business problems.

Years 12−13 Business Studies (AQA Specifiction)
Unit 1 focuses on starting up a business and sources of finance and then encompasses a wide range of business topics to include design, entrepreneurship ,financial and business planning with a clear emphasis on changing markets. The unit contains a fair amount of data or statistical work on market share comparisons, investment appraisal, cash flow and breakeven analysis.

Unit 2 concentrates on organisation and management with the functions of directors, leadership traits, human resources and legal structures. Certainly, motivation is one of the popular studies in this area as well as methods of improving profitability and efficiency.

At A2 level a further 2 units are studied in depth including a case study of an applied and topical market in the UK economy.

Years 12−13 Economics
Economics is offered through the Edexcel board
Unit 1 looks at the market: how it works and why it can fail?
Unit 2 focuses on macroeconomics and the UK.

At A2 level we look at some special studies of competition, global markets and at macroeconomics in more depth. We also encourage students to get involved with the national Young Enterprise Scheme.

Enrichment
The Young Enterprise Scheme allows 16 to 18 year olds to run a commercial enterprise from the October to June period of an academic year. This gives the opportunity to experience the work of functional directors and fosters good skills of communication. The students also participate in trade fairs, team work exercises, public speaking competitions with a commercial theme and the national scheme which includes a public examination in March.

Business studies and Economics staff
Mr R H Jenkins (Head of Dept) and Mr N Churchill

For further information please contact the Head of Department via the School Office:
T: 01892 529551
E: thegrammarschool@twgsboys.kent.sch.uk