Business Studies Department

Welcome to the Business Studies department homepage.

Courses Offered:

GCSE Business Studies 
GCSE Business & Communication Systems
GCE Applied Business Studies (AS and A2)

 

What is Business Studies?
At Magherafelt High School our Business Studies couses provide students with a unique insight into the world of work. Through its study, students discover how businesses operate and learn about their key elements and essential business functions.
This knowledge, and the holistic understanding that develops, is invaluable to those students who are approaching or currently in the workplace. It offers an excellent foundation for those wishing to pursue careers in management, marketing, project management, business accounting, management consultancy, human resources, and business journalism as well as those interested in continuing on to further study.

 

GCSE Business Studies
Students studying a GCSE in Business Studies at Magherafelt High School, will gain business knowledge, understanding and skills. They begin to understand current events in local, national and global contexts. They learn how to use relevant terms, concepts and methods effectively to describe business and economic behaviour. Students also consider business ethics and the impact of business on the environment.
Within the Business Studies department we want our students to develop as independent learners and encourage them to use an enquiring, critical approach to distinguish facts from opinions, form arguments and make informed judgements.

This course prepares students for further study of business and business-related subjects, including Advanced Subsidiary GCE in Business Studies, Advanced GCE in Business Studies and Applied GCE in Business. 

This GCSE Business Studies specification has two units:

• Business Start Up; and
• Business Development.

The content of each unit is described in more detail below.

GCSE Business & Communication Systems
Through studying GCSE Business and Communication Systems at Magherafelt High School, students:

• gain business knowledge, understanding and skills;
• gain practical ICT skills; and
• gain an understanding of how ICT skills are used to enhance business activities, particularly through e-commerce.

This course is very relevant to today’s business world. It helps students understand the changing role of ICT in business and economic activities. It also helps students understand the ways in which market environments are changing because of ICT, for example the rise of e-business. 
This course helps students develop practical ICT and business skills that are useful in a diverse range of employment roles. It also prepares students for studying business and ICT at a more advanced level.
Our GCSE in Business and Communication Systems is divided into three units:

• Use of ICT;
• The Business Environment; and
• E-Commerce.

Students must complete all three themes. The content of each theme is outlined in more detail in the table below.