Business Studies

At The Appleton School we offer a range of different business courses available for students in Year 7 to Year 11; GCSE Business Studies, GCSE Applied Business, OCR Nationals in Business (Level2), an Award in Money and Finance Award along with Enterprise Capability Skills.

Our GCSE and OCR courses are available as options at Key Stage 4 along with the Money and Finance Award, although some students choose to opt for a "GCSE in a year" by opting for Applied Business in Year 9.

Year 7, 8 and 9 students currently study qualifications in Money and Finance or Enterprise Capability.

Business Education syllabuses are designed to encourage students to think and act like business men and women and from their very first lesson they will actively participate in a variety of situations designed to stimulate their imagination and to encourage them to make decisions based upon their knowledge and understanding of the subject.

Students will learn about how businesses are developed and discover how businesses promote themselves and keep their customers happy. Students learn how businesses manage both their finances and the people who work for them.  Business at Appleton is all about reality and so learning resources are based on "real" organisations and applying theory within those situations.

Business students enjoy many additional enterprise opportunities outside of their timetabled lessons and are actively encouraged to involve themselves in the Young Enterprise scheme as well as other enterprising activities such as the Fair Trade Tuck Shop and Columbian Juice Bar.

Business Education is a popular optional subject that traditionally enjoys a lot of success at The Appleton School, with results well-above national averages; staff expectations of students are high and student attainment reflects the commitment and enthusiasm of staff and students alike.

OFSTED comments regarding the Business curriculum area include;

• "Standards across the range of business education courses are very high"
• "Students' achievement in business education courses is outstanding"
• "The attitude and behaviour of students on business education courses is excellent"
• "Overall teaching and learning are outstanding and contributes very effectively to pupil's learning" 
• "Teachers are very knowledgeable, enthusiastic and concerned for the progress of each individual student"
• "Lessons are tightly focused" 
• "Marking and assessment of pupil's work is particularly effective and used well to help plan future lessons"

• "Students are well motivated and extremely good relationships were evident in all lessons observed, fostering hard work and excellent progress"