Business Studies

More detail can be found about all of our academic faculties under the Curriculum sections of our website that cover the Third Form Curriculum, the Fourth Form Curriculum (leading up to GCSE) and the Sixth Form Curriculum.

Shrewsbury School was one of the pioneers of the Business Studies A Level. Teaching is largely based on case studies of both real and fictional companies, so pupils obtain a broad understanding of a wide range of businesses. It is certainly one of the most topical subjects: an article from today’s FT may well form the basis of today’s lesson.

Pupils have an immediate affinity with marketing, and finance/accounts is inevitably central to the subject. We delve into psychology in human resource management, and operational factors form another major unit. Over-arching these is an awareness of external constraints on businesses, including macro-economic factors and understanding strategic decision-making.

All pupils belong to the "Business Club", a society that has invited many prominent businessmen to visit. Recent speakers have included top executives from Astra-Zeneca, Sainsbury’s, Unilever and Microsoft as well as various local entrepreneurs.

Pupils take part in various business competitions. One of these is the 'ifs School of Finance Student Investor Competition', which is a national stock market investment game (using pretend money!) in which the participants pit their skills against teams from all over the country. In 2009 a team from Shrewsbury School reached the regional final and narrowly missed the opportunity to go to the national final. Pupils have also competed in a competition run by the Ogden Trust which involves analysing and making a presentation on a specific business topic.

Business and management courses are among the most popular university choices for leaving Salopians.

Colm Kealy, Head of Business Studies
cwk@shrewsbury.org.uk

A Level Results – Business Studies