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Business Studies

Business Studies is an increasingly popular and successful subject at Christleton High School, both at GCSE and Advanced levels.  Over 100 students each year now opt for CCSE and 30 for Advanced Level Business Studies.  In 1997, 79% of students achieved grades  A* to C at GCSE and 92% achieved a pass at 'A' level.
For GCSE, students study four units for approximately one term each:

  •   People in Business
  •   Production
  •   Business finance
  •   Marketing

During term 5, students prepare for and sit two coursework examinations, based on a case study of an imaginary firm.  The coursework examinations make up 25% of the overall marks.  Throughout the course, students are encouraged to study businesses in the local area and make at least one visit to a local firm.

At 'A' Level, students follow a modular course in Business Studies and have completed the AS by the end of Year 12.  Most students then continue to complete the full 'A' Level during Year 13.  In Year 13, students undertake a piece of personal research into an individual business, on a topic of their own choice.  The variety of chosen organisations and topics is wide:  from a national non-profit making orchestra struggling to stay afloat to a local dating agency trying to increase its membership.

The School's highly successful involvement in the Young Enterprise scheme is closely associated with the Business Studies department.  Many 'A' Level Business Studies students become involved in the formation of  a Young Enterprise company and a member of the Business Studies staff, Mr  Darran Jones, is the School's link teacher and also a member of the regional Young Enterprise Board.  It is most unusual for a Christleton Young Enterprise company not to receive an award at the annual presentations!

ECONOMICS

Economics 'A' Level has held its own in recent years against the increased competition from Business Studies and the other social sciences.  In 1997, 11 students were entered for 'A' Level Economics and the subject achieved a 91% pass rate.

A modular 'A' Level is offered.  The first two modules, studied in Year 12, cover basic micro- and macro-economics, with particular reference to the United Kingdom economy.  As with Business Studies, the AS is complete by the end of Year12.  In Year 13, students have the opportunity to look more closely at particular areas of economics and study the economics of development, industrialisation and the economics of labour.