Business Studies

Head Of Department :

The courses offered by the Department:

The Business Studies Department has two full time teachers who teach on a range of differing courses that have been developed to meet students' needs. We offer a Taster class in Year 9 for all students who would like the opportunity to develop an awareness of what Business Studies has to offer and help them with a progression into GCSE, AS/A2 Level and beyond. 

At Key Stage 4, we offer a GCSE in Business Studies that incorporates a piece of coursework that investigates a marketing task with two examination papers. AT Key Stage 5, we offer AS/A2 Level in Business Studies and also we offer AS/A2 Level in Travel and Tourism. We do this to give students opportunities to develop their skills, competencies and understanding in the curriculum area that best suits them.

Business Studies at South Wirral is currently experiencing a growth in student numbers from roughly 75 to almost 90 students taking the course at GCSE level. Numbers on our AS/A2 courses for both Business Studies and Travel and Tourism are high, demonstrating the popularity of the course.

The teaching of Business Studies and Travel and Tourism at South Wirral aims to make lessons enjoyable, stimulating, challenging and relevant to the individual student. The teaching and learning style is based on the Mind Friendly Model that the school has adopted and every effort is made to personalise learning to interact with students' preferred learning styles.

The Business Studies Department is always keen to develop further. We have implemented a stronger Assessment for Learning process concentrating on self/peer assessment. Our strengths focus on resource creation especially our revision materials. And we have developed a teaching style that tries to fully utilise the resources we have currently in the department such as our interactive whiteboards and ICT systems. We also look to current educational pedagogy such as Student Voice to develop the department further and also to enhance students' learning.

We offer a range of trips to develop student's knowledge of the 'real world'. In the last couple of years we have taken GCSE students on trips to Cadbury's World and Alton Towers to enhance understanding of production and marketing techniques. We have taken BTEC students to Asda and Liverpool FC to investigate Customer Service and have taken AS/A2 Level students to Manchester Airport. 

Business Studies Courses

Business Studies Courses at GCSE and AS/A2 Level all study similar units, these units are:

The AS/A2 Level course is completely assessed through examinations in January and June of the course, whilst the GCSE course has an examination at the end of Year 11.

Course ideals

On all Business Studies courses we aim students can:

Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the specified content. Make effective use of relevant terminology, concepts and methods and apply their knowledge and understanding to current issues and problems in a wide range of appropriate contexts.

Apply their knowledge and critical understanding to problems and issues arising from both familiar and unfamiliar situations and analyze problems, issues and situations;

Evaluate, distinguish between fact and opinion, and assess information from a variety of sources to help them evaluate evidence; make reasoned judgements and present conclusions accurately and appropriately.

Travel and Tourism Courses

Travel and Tourism is a vocational A-Level that focuses on aspects of the Travel and Tourism industry. Students who enrol on this course gain valuable skills such as presentation, research and customer service skills, which are highly regarded by universities and employers. In addition, students are empowered by being in control of their learning and develop their timekeeping, as they have to meet strict deadlines. The two courses consist of three units, of which two are coursework assessed and one unit is exam-based. 

The Course Structure for the AS Level

The three units assessed for this course are:

Unit 1: Inside the Travel and Tourism Industry

An exam-assessed unit. Topics covered include the history and the future of Tourism. The students will investigate the development of travel and tourism in the different sectors of the industry.

Unit 2: Travel and Tourism - A People industry

A portfolio of evidence is created to provide assessment opportunities; this is based upon research into a travel organisation. Customer Service and its importance to organisations, training and product knowledge are researched. An understanding of how different customers have different needs is also explored and practical experience of customer service is gained through role-plays.

Unit 3: Travel destinations

A portfolio of evidence is created to provide assessment opportunities; this is based upon research of core knowledge of geography for a particular location in Europe and North America. In this unit, students will learn about the significance of physical and human geography characteristics that affect tourism, how destinations have key features that are important to different types of tourist. Through this unit you will develop your knowledge, understanding and research skills by investigating two different destinations and how they appeal to different types of customers. 

The Course Structure for the A2 Level

Unit 8: Travel and Tourism Project
A portfolio of evidence is created to provide assessment opportunities; this is based upon taking part in a real travel tourism project. The project involves organising either a travel excursion or a tourism event by planning, researching, costing and time managing the project as a group. 

Unit 9: Travel and Tourism - People and Quality

In this unit, students are examined on several travel businesses that have been researched. An appreciation of the health, safety and security procedures and legislation are developed leading to students having knowledge of how managers in the industry deal with these issues.

Unit 10: Current issues in Travel and Tourism

A portfolio of evidence is created to provide assessment opportunities; this is based upon a current issue of your choice. Students need to develop an understanding of the travel and tourism industry and how it is susceptible to a variety of events, developments and changes outside the industry. An in-depth evaluation of travel and tourism's weaknesses to outside influences and the industry's response to it is carried out.

Travel and Tourism progression is into Higher and Further Education through degrees such as Travel and Tourism Management and Hospitality and through National Qualifications framework such as BTEC National Certificate in Travel and Tourism. Also, opportunities in the workplace are possible as the course aims to support the recognised standards with the travel industry. With this course, candidates could work in many areas such as travel agents, conference planning and resort representatives.