Name: Pale Blue Dot
Price range: $

Business Studies

Our Aims

To inspire and add value to each of our pupils enabling them to gain a competitive advantage regarding future employment through the development of entrepreneurial skills such as; creativity, innovation, determination and independent thinking.

Staff

Subject Leader

Mr N Irwin

Teacher

Mrs G McQuiston

Teacher

Miss J Adams

Teacher

Mr S Murphy

Teacher

Miss J Coulter

Curriculum

Key Stage 3

Belfast Royal Academy to our knowledge, is one of the few schools in the province who offers Business Studies at KS3. F3 can opt to study Business in Form 3. The course is designed to act as an introduction to the subject, enabling pupils to make a more informed choice as to whether the subject is correct for them at GCSE level. Form 3 Business Studies covers the 4 main areas of Marketing, Production, Human Resource Management and Finance. There is also an industry trip to Tayto Castle which shows pupils the practical side to manufacturing and marketing.
GCSE
Pupils follow the CCEA specification which is 80% examination and 20% controlled assessment.
- Unit 1: Starting a Business
- Unit 2: Developing a Business
- Unit 3: Planning a Business.
Unit 1 is taught in Form 4, Unit 2 in Form 5 and the Controlled Assessment is delivered after Christmas in Form 5.
AS/A2
Pupils follow the CCEA specification which is 100% examination. The specification is available at two levels: AS and A2. Students can take the AS units plus the A2 units for a full GCE A level qualification. They can also choose to take the AS course as a stand-alone qualification.

The specification has four units:
- Unit AS 1: Introduction to Business
- Unit AS 2: Growing the Business
- Unit A2 1: Strategic Decision Making
- Unit A2 2: The Competitive Business Environment.

Facilities and Resources

Business Studies is taught in the Jackson and Bruce buildings. We have smart boards/data projection and audio visual technologies. We are equipped with 20 laptops and 20 desktop computers in 2 of our rooms.

Additional Information

The Business Studies Department seeks to provide outstanding teaching and learning within the classroom. We provide an innovative environment and employ differentiated teaching strategies in a passionate manner to bring business theory to life. We aim to stretch the pupils we teach while supporting them every step of the way. Business Studies opens doors to many Further Education courses and is attractive to employers as the skills learnt are useful in many different careers such as management, finance, marketing and HRM. We aim to stretch the pupils while supporting them every step of the way, providing them with an education that is challenging, enriching and fun.

Get in touch

Our office is open 8:15am - 4:15pm Monday to Friday.

info@bfsra.belfast.ni.sch.uk