Business

To do ‘business’ is to engage in some commercial activity with someone else. To study business is to understand the key decisions that must be made in order to ensure both people ‘doing business’ are satisfied.

Business at Copleston is the Sixth Form’s most popular subject, with over one third of our students sitting the course. It is also a popular subject at GCSE with two classes per cohort since being launched in 2020. It is a subject with an ever-growing relevance to the way we live our lives as individuals, consumers and entrepreneurs. Students study the main functional areas of a business, and what makes any organisation succeed, before developing an understanding of the wider business contexts we operate in.

Business is a broad subject, that can be the first step towards many different career pathways.

“You have everything you need to build something far bigger than yourself”

Curriculum Maps

The topics we study are outlined in our curriculum maps:

key stage 4 curriculum map

key stage 5 curriculum map

How will my child be assessed?

	Assessment and Feedback Outline Approach
KS5	The assessment timeline consists of one formal exam assessment in each half term for both year groups supplemented by knowledge tests after each Unit. Year 12: October Assessment 1 (Theme 1) December Assessment 2 (Theme 1) January Mock Exam 1 (Paper 1 AS) March Assessment 1 (Theme 2) May Assessment 2 (Theme 2) June Mock Exam 2 (Paper 2 AS) Year 13: October Assessment 1 (Theme 3) November Mock Exam 1 (Paper 2 A2) January Assessment 2 (Theme 3) February Mock Exam 2 (Paper 3 A2) May Mock Exam 3 (Paper 1 A2) All of the above will be exam assessments consisting of exam style questions and will be marked formally. Students study 10 units in each year, and will be assessed on knowledge and skill at the end of each unit, with the majority of this assessment taking place through peer/self-assessment.
KS4	The assessment timeline consists of five formal assessments per year for all year groups, which is supplemented by informal assessments throughout the year. These formal assessments come in three forms: Knowledge assessments which are made up of multiple choice and short answer questions to determine gaps in knowledge and progress through the curriculum. These are used in the early stages of the course, to build up a foundation of knowledge prior to developing exam skills. Exam assessments which are made up of exam style questions and will cover recently taught curriculum content Formal mock assessments as in line with the school’s assessment timetables and consist of either a full, exam conditions mock or a walkthrough mock. Year 9 2x Knowledge Assessments (Half Terms 1 and 2) 3x Exam Assessments (Half Terms 4, 5 and 6) Year 10 4x Exam Assessments (Half Terms 1, 2, 3 and 4) 1x Formal Mock Assessments (Half Term 5) Year 11 2x Exam Assessments (Half Terms 2 and 4) 3x Formal Mock Assessments (Half Terms 1, 3 and 5) The above are all formally teacher marked, and will be supplemented throughout the course with end of unit assessments which are peer or self assessed.

Assessment and Feedback Outline Approach

KS5

The assessment timeline consists of one formal exam assessment in each half term for both year groups supplemented by knowledge tests after each Unit.

Year 12:

October Assessment 1 (Theme 1)
December Assessment 2 (Theme 1)
January Mock Exam 1 (Paper 1 AS)
March Assessment 1 (Theme 2)
May Assessment 2 (Theme 2)
June Mock Exam 2 (Paper 2 AS)

Year 13:

October Assessment 1 (Theme 3)
November Mock Exam 1 (Paper 2 A2)
January Assessment 2 (Theme 3)
February Mock Exam 2 (Paper 3 A2)
May Mock Exam 3 (Paper 1 A2)

All of the above will be exam assessments consisting of exam style questions and will be marked formally. Students study 10 units in each year, and will be assessed on knowledge and skill at the end of each unit, with the majority of this assessment taking place through peer/self-assessment.

KS4

The assessment timeline consists of five formal assessments per year for all year groups, which is supplemented by informal assessments throughout the year. These formal assessments come in three forms:

Knowledge assessments which are made up of multiple choice and short answer questions to determine gaps in knowledge and progress through the curriculum. These are used in the early stages of the course, to build up a foundation of knowledge prior to developing exam skills.
Exam assessments which are made up of exam style questions and will cover recently taught curriculum content
Formal mock assessments as in line with the school’s assessment timetables and consist of either a full, exam conditions mock or a walkthrough mock.

Year 9

2x Knowledge Assessments (Half Terms 1 and 2)
3x Exam Assessments (Half Terms 4, 5 and 6)

Year 10

4x Exam Assessments (Half Terms 1, 2, 3 and 4)
1x Formal Mock Assessments (Half Term 5)

Year 11

2x Exam Assessments (Half Terms 2 and 4)
3x Formal Mock Assessments (Half Terms 1, 3 and 5)

The above are all formally teacher marked, and will be supplemented throughout the course with end of unit assessments which are peer or self assessed.