Business is a very popular subject at Poole High School and the overall outcomes our students achieve have resulted in excellent university places, as well as popular apprenticeships at companies including JP Morgan, Price Waterhouse Cooper and PK Francis Clarke. 
Business allows students to develop a broad understanding of business organisations and provides them with knowledge of the key business functional areas including marketing, accounting, finance, human resources and operations management.
We offer academic, technical and vocational courses within key stage 5. In both of our courses, lessons involve discussions, individual work, note-taking and independent research. Success in all of our courses depends on the amount of work you put into it as well as ability and a high degree of self-motivation.


Departmental Courses
A Level Business Studies
BTEC Foundation Diploma (1.5 A Levels)
T Level in Finance (3 A Levels)
T Level in Accounting (3 A Levels)

Business Studies - Handbooks and Summer Tasks

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Why study A-Level Business Studies?

Studying our A-Level Business course will ensure students study a variety of businesses in a variety of contexts through a clear and coherent structure of four engaging and up-to-date themes. Students are introduced to core business concepts and develop a broad understanding of how businesses work before they consider the decision-making tools that help businesses move towards a more scientific approach to management. Some of the key issues students will understand are:

  • Helping to develop a holistic understanding of business
  • Providing a real business focus
  • Reflecting on today’s global world
  • Developing transferable skills for progression to higher education
  • Supporting progression from KS4 study

A Level Business complements most other A-Levels however we would recommend that students will have a minimum of a ‘5’ in Maths and English and be able to draw information and data out of case study.

Topics include:

  • Marketing and People
  • Managing Business Activities
  • Business Decision and Strategy
  • Global Business

YEAR 1

We focus on the theory base areas of the specification in order for you to develop the correct exam technique for each of type of exam questions. Topics include; Marketing, Human Resource Management, Recruitment and Selection, Distribution, Ethics and Culture.

YEAR 2

Students will develop their knowledge further by investigating the Global Business world as well as all the financial information and calculations required to make effective business decisions.  

ASSESSMENT METHOD

There are three exams, each 2 hours long. Paper 1 relates to theme 1 and 4, Paper 2 relates to theme 2 and 3 and Paper 3 is based on a pre-release research task and could be from any of the learning themes.

Who can I contact for help?

Miss E Wyatt (Director of Vocational Education/ Head of Business) e.wyatt@poolehigh.poole.sch.uk

Why study BTEC Business

Studying our BTEC Business course offers a practical introduction to business, and supports progression to further study or employment. Students will study a range of business related activities and learners will develop transferable knowledge and skills. The qualifications prepare learners for a range of higher education courses and apprenticeships.

Some of the key issues students will understand are:

  • Helping to develop a holistic understanding of business
  • Providing a real business focus on particular units of study such as Finance, Marketing and the building of teams
  • Developing transferable skills for progression to higher education
  • Supporting progression from KS4 study
  • Use of non-quantitative and quantitative data in decision making

BTEC Business complements most other pathways, however we would recommend that students will have a minimum of a ‘4’ in Maths and English to cope with the rigors of the course requirements.

Topics include:

  • Exploring Business
  • Developing a Marketing Campaign
  • Personal and Business Finance

At Key Stage 5 we offer two different BTEC qualifications. The Foundation Diploma (1.5 A Levels) and Diploma (2 A Levels). All of these qualifications have an element of external (E) assessment as well as internal (I) coursework units.

Year 1

Foundation Diploma

Diploma

Unit 1: Exploring Business (1)

Unit 2: Developing a Marketing Campaign (E)

Unit 8: Recruitment and Selection Process (I)

All units as per Foundation Diploma

You will complete an additional qualification in Marketing with CMI recognition

Year 2

Foundation Diploma:

Diploma

Unit 3: Personal and Business Finance (E)

Unit 4: Managing an Event (I)

Unit 19: Pitching for a New Business (I)

Unit 5: International Business (I)

Unit 6: Principles of Management (E)

Who can I contact for help?

Miss E Wyatt (Director of Vocational Education/ Head of Business) e.wyatt@poolehigh.poole.sch.uk

T Level Finance

We are pleased to currently be the only provider in the local area to offer the Finance T Level and the Accounting T Level from September 2023

T Levels will combine classroom theory, practical learning and a minimum of 315 hours of industry placement with an employer to make sure students have a real experience of the workplace.

Key Core topics include:

  • The business environment
  • Careers within the finance and accounting professions
  • Regulation
  • Professionalism & ethics/equality, diversity and inclusion
  • Security and risk
  • Professional services
  • Fundamentals of law
  • Fundamentals of financial accounting
  • Technology
  • Data driven innovation/analytics and design thinking
  • Research skills
  • Project/change management and administration
  • The financial services sector
  • Professionalism and ethics

Occupational specialisms to choose from:

  • Retail & Commercial Banking Analyst (Finance)
  • Investment Banking and Asset Wealth Management Analyst (Finance)
  • Insurance Practitioner (Finance)
  • Financial Compliance/Risk Analyst (Finance)
  • Assistant Accounting (Accounting)

Industry Placement Core Principles

  • Takes place in a working environment- must be external to students’ normal learning environment so they experience what it is like to be in a real-life job.
  • Relevant to the occupational specialism- must be focussed on developing up-to-date technical skills and specialist knowledge required for your chosen specialism 
  • Duration- Must be for a minimum of 315 hours, which can include up to 35 days of work taster activities.
  • Timing- Must be organised in line with the normal requirements of the industry, which may be outside the academic timetable or normal provider working hours. Placement hours must align with the Working time Regulations
  • Industry placement completion- to complete their placement their placement students must:
    • Demonstrate sufficient progress towards their learning goals
    • Work directly to an external employer
    • Have been on placement for the minimum number of hours

Potential industry placements

We are continually looking for local Accounting, Banking, Finance and Insurance companies to offer industry placements current employers offering placements are:

We are very happy to confirm JP Morgan have agree to have 5-10 students for their industry placement. This will give both JP Morgan and the student the opportunity to see if a career at JP Morgan is for them!

 

    
     

Year 2

Extended Certificate

Diploma

Extended Diploma

Unit 3- Personal & Business Finance (E)

Unit 27- Work Experience in Business (I)

The Extended Certificate Units plus;

Unit 6- Principles of Management (E)

Unit 5- International Business (I)

The Extended Certificate and Diploma units plus;

Unit 14- Investigating Customer Service (I)

Unit 13-Cost and Management Accounting (I)

Business is a qualification which can help you access many doors, be that through a university degree or an apprenticeship. People who study business generally go into a career such as; marketing, accountancy, banking and/or finance, human resources, promotion and if they are considering starting their own business in the future.