Intent 

The BTEC Level 2 First Award in Business has been designed to provide a focused vocational qualification. The qualification will provide students with the knowledge, understanding and skills necessary to prepare them for employment or higher education. The course has an essential core of knowledge and applied skills. The essential core gives learners the opportunity to gain a broad understanding and knowledge of a vocational sector.

The optional units provide a closer focus on Business studies, supporting progression into a more specialised level 3 vocational or academic course or into an apprenticeship.

Overall, the course has been developed to encourage students’ personal development of knowledge and skills relevant to the business world through practical participation in a range of vocational business activities

Implementation

At Churchmead school our Business studies department operates a 3-year BTEC flight path, starting with the introductory course in Year 9, which then leads to the final BTEC course in Year 10 & 11. The classes will normally have five lessons each, over a fortnight and all students should experience most of these activities:

  • Discussion - one to one or in groups
  • Research – group or individual using a variety of methods
  • Report writing – manually or using ICT
  • Presentations – in groups or individually
  • Practical work
  • Display work
  • Visits to organisations/companies
  • Work with visitors

The course includes an externally assessed finance unit in the core to introduce externality into the Business programmes of study. Internally assessed units allow learners to receive feedback on their progress throughout the course as they provide evidence towards the assessment criteria.

Impact

Our Business curriculum provides a solid foundation for further studies and students are encouraged to take responsibility for their own learning and achievement, taking account of the industry standards for behaviour and performance. The BTEC First Award in Business provides a good foundation for learners in post-16 education, or to entry level job roles within the sector. Achievement at level 2 also provides a suitable foundation for further study within the sector through progression on to other vocational qualifications at level 3, such as BTEC Level 3 Nationals in Business. The underpinning knowledge and practical and vocational skills learnt will also enhance and support the progression to a relevant competency-based course, such as the BTEC NVQ Level 2 in either Business Administration

What makes vocational Qualifications different?

  • Students develop skills, knowledge and understanding in the vocational area they are studying.
  • Each vocational course is made up of a number of units, allowing students to build up their qualification in stages.
  • Students are assessed through coursework.
  • Students produce evidence for their key skills qualification through their vocational course.
  • Students take responsibility for their own learning by planning their work, doing research and regularly reviewing their progress.

Why do we offer BTEC courses?

  • They prepare students for the world of work and provide a good starting point for other qualifications such as NVQs that can be studied in the workplace.
  • Employers value the qualities that vocational students bring to the workplace e.g. organisation, time management, communication and research skills.
  • Universities value the independent study skills that vocational students bring to their courses.
  • The courses are flexible so that they meet the needs of a wide range of students.  They are available at different levels in a variety of formats.  They can be taken alongside other qualifications such as traditional GCSEs, A levels.
  • They give students the opportunity to try a range of activities such as designing products, organising events, investigating how professionals work and working in teams.

Which styles of teaching will be used?

Different styles of teaching will be required throughout the course. This will depend on the unit being taught, the stage of delivery and the type of assessment required for that unit.

  • Teacher input

At the start of a unit there will be a lot of teacher input; question and answer sessions, discussions, note taking and handouts.  This may all happen at the beginning of a unit or at different points throughout the unit.  It is important for you to note any information you are given, as it may be required at a later stage in the unit.

  • Student investigation

Once the assignment has been explained and the tasks have been set, you will have to work on your own to find the information you need and then you will have to produce the information in a particular format to meet the requirements of the task.  The work you produce must be your own; word for word copying from a textbook, or copying and pasting from the Internet will not be accepted nor will you be allowed to copy the work of other students.  You will have to check regularly with your teacher to make sure that your work is correct and to discuss any ideas that you want to develop. 

  • Group work  

For some tasks you may have to work in a group, either to find information or to produce evidence.  This is quite acceptable providing that all students take an equal share of the work and that individual contributions are identified.

  • Practical Work
  • Learning by experience

Learning by experience and is usually done in the work place (e.g. work experience or work placement) or by setting up work situations in the classroom (e.g. a role play of a business interview or a health care worker communicating with a client).  Whether real or pretend, a lot can be learned from this type of situation and it is important to make the most of it by preparing thoroughly beforehand and recording any information you find.  Inviting visitors into school from the vocational sector is another good way of linking your work with what really happens in the workplace.

Developing skills

During your course you will be taught many skills:

  • communication skills
  • research skills using a variety of methods
  • I.C.T. skills using a variety of programs
  • practical skills using different techniques and equipment
  • presentation skills using a variety of formats
  • organisational skills

You will be expected to practise these skills and apply them where appropriate throughout the course.

How will your work be assessed? 

The BTEC Level 2 First Award in Business has one externally assessed unit work 25% of the course. The other units are internally assessed by completing coursework assignments set by your teacher, based on the learning outcomes set by the awarding body.

Edexcel BTEC Level 1/Level 2 First Award in Business

 

Unit

Core Units

Assessment Method

GLH

1

Enterprise in the business world

Internal

30

2

Finance for business

External

30

3

Promoting a brand

Internal

30

4

Principles of customer service

Internal

30