Business Studies (BTEC First)

Business Studies (BTEC First)
Level: Intermediate Level 2

Awarding Body: EDEXCEL

Course Content:
The BTEC First course enable students to acquire a broad knowledge of Business related topics. The range of topics which will you will cover are:

Unit 1 Exploring Business Purposes
This unit is about how businesses work - their objectives and activities, the different types of ownership and the different departments in businesses

Unit 2 Developing Customer Relations
This unit is about customer service and how important it is to a business.

Unit 3 Investigating Financial Control
This unit is about how businesses keep accounts and financial information, and why it is important for a business to do this

Unit 5 People in Organisations
This unit is about how to prepare for employment, the nature of employment and how to plan your career

Unit 8 Doing Business Online
This unit is about the different types of online activities there are, how they work, and the Benefit of a business going "online"

Unit 9 Exploring Business Enterprise
This unit is about actually setting up a business - how you would prepare and actually start your own business!

Teaching Learning Methods:
Students have 12 hours per week of tuition and are expected to produce six detailed assignments which make up their portfolio of evidence. This will require developing sound independent research skills as well as participating in group work and carrying out presentations in front of the class.

Students will also receive visits from guest speakers who work in positions of responsibility within the business world. The intention of the BTEC First course is to develop a theoretical and practical knowledge of the business issues which will equip students with the ability to apply their learning within a practical working context or progress onto advanced level courses.

Key Skills:
During the course students will create a portfolio of evidence of IT Key Skills and take a Key Skills test at Level 2. IT skills are increasingly in demand by both employers and as a requirement for higher levels of education and thus Key Skills is an important requirement of the course.

Assessment:
Students will have to complete six units to achieve the BTEC First Diploma. These are all carried out via written assignments which will provide the evidence for their business portfolio. There are three pass grades for each unit which can be achieved; pass, merit and distinction, each of which carries a number of points. Pass grades range from Pass (which equates to CCBB in GCSE terms) to Distinction * and are based on the total number of points gained from your six units.

Skills & Commitment:
This is a demanding course, which will require a great deal of commitment. Students will need to ensure that they have 100% attendance and are willing and able to work either independently or as part of a team. Students should expect to "match" the number of classroom hours they have with at least the same number of hours of work during outside the classroom.
Students will also need to develop good time management skills as meeting deadlines is essential and students must also be prepared to carry out presentations in front of the class.
Students will also need to keep all their work well organised so their assignments may be submitted to the exam board for external verification and their portfolio collected at the end of the course.

Progression:
Many students completing the BTEC First course will continue at St Charles via the natural progression to BTEC National Business Studies (the equivalent of 2 A levels) - and on to university after that.

A few students may progress to AS and A2 levels but students should be aware of the exact requirements of these courses - the BTEC First in Business may not be enough on its own.
In order to progress to advanced level at St Charles students will need to secure at least a merit grade, and the recommendation of their teachers.
Other choices available to students after the course include Modern Apprenticeship schemes or employment - where the BTEC First is a well respected qualification.

Entry Requirement:

This vocational course is suitable for students who:
1. Have at least four D's at GCSE or a BTEC Introductory qualification at Merit or Distinction
AND
2. Are interested in: an office or administrative career within either the Public (e.g. civil service) or
Private sectors (large or small companies), customer service career (e.g. department store) finance (e.g. building societies, banks, insurance companies etc) or accounts work