Aims

The aim of Business Studies is to provide pupils with the understanding to function effectively in the rapidly changing world. Through this subject pupils will have the opportunity to become more aware of how things are made and how they work. Active involvement in Business Studies provides opportunity for pupils to think, plan, reason and evaluate. We actively develop the pupil’s ability to think and plan in a logical sequence to pursue goals, which can be realistically achieved. The subject brings together and utilises knowledge and skills from other curriculum areas especially in problem solving activities. The Business Studies Department offers pupils the opportunity to study the subject at GCSE, AS and A Level. Why choose Business Studies as a subject at GCSE and A’ Level? While it is obvious for all those wishing to take employment in industry or pursue entrepreneurial ambition it is vitally important for all students to develop knowledge and understanding of the Business Environment. Everyone will contribute to a business in some manner as an owner, employee, customer, and supplier or in various stakeholders’ capacity. Therefore building up personal knowledge and understanding will enhance your own ideas of how the business operates. As a Key Stage 4 and Key Stage 5 subject students have a unique opportunity to study something different from the traditional Key Stage 3 curriculum. This can be a welcomed change and offers students to up-skill and develop new skills in a different learning and teaching environment. Business Studies is an excellent, current subject that allows students to explore a wide variety of subjects, topics and concepts from Economics, Accountancy, Human Resource Management, Marketing, International Business and Management and many more. It is a cross curricular subject and appeals to academic and vocationally gifted students with a rich mixture of numeracy and literacy themes challenging all students and raising standards. Studying Business will allow each learner to appreciate the world around them and identify the links between Business, Government, Society and the wider world. Students will understand the Business and Political landscape locally, nationally and internationally. St Mary’s offers a range of Business courses approved and accepted at Higher Level institutions and by leading universities in N Ireland and across the United Kingdom. In terms of employability and careers the study of Business Studies enhances students’ employment opportunities as they are studying the wider Business Environment. This allows for a smoother transition from student life to actively contributing to the business operations in their chosen area of industry and career.