In the Business department, we aim to equip students with a practical understanding of how commercial organisations operate in the real world. Business touches almost every aspect of modern life, from local enterprises to multinational corporations. Our curriculum introduces students to the core functional areas of business, helping them develop problem-solving capabilities, financial literacy and analytical thinking. We support students to understand how decisions are made, how risk is managed and how organisations adapt to changing external environments. Through real-world case studies, group activities and independent research, we encourage students to think critically about the role business plays in society.

Students will emerge with a rich understanding of their place in the world, with the skills and knowledge needed to engage in the local labour market. The labour market profile for the South East of England highlights the need for students to have the numeracy, literacy and critical thinking skills that are required in professional occupations

Professional occupations:
South East England 22%
Reading 32%
Wokingham 29%

It is the aim of the Business Department at The Bulmershe School to provide an engaging, dynamic and relevant curriculum that provides all of our students with the effective knowledge and skills to navigate and participate in the commercial world they find themselves in.  We aspire for our students to, not only enjoy their study of these subjects, but to understand the role that they may play in the commercial world as a citizen, consumer, entrepreneur, employer or employee.

KS4 content and intent

At Key Stage 4, we lay the foundation for understanding enterprise and business operations. Our intent is to make key commercial concepts accessible, engaging and relevant to daily life. Students explore how businesses start up, how they grow and how they manage their day-to-day operations.

During the course, students cover the core concepts of business activity, marketing, human resources, operations and finance. They learn how to analyze business performance using financial data, examine how marketing strategies target specific audiences and explore how businesses recruit, motivate and manage their workforce. We also look at the impact of external influences such as the economy, environmental concerns and ethical considerations. By the end of Key Stage 4, students have developed a clear understanding of enterprise alongside strong numeracy, communication and evaluation skills.

KS5 content and intent

At Key Stage 5, our AQA A-Level Business course deepens students' knowledge by taking a strategic view of commercial decision making. The intent is to develop informed, analytical thinkers who can evaluate complex business scenarios and propose sound strategic solutions.

In the first year, students focus on internal business functions and operational decision making: Unit 1: What is Business? Unit 2: Managers, Leadership and Decision making Unit 3: Decision making to improve marketing performance Unit 4: Decision making to improve operational performance Unit 5: Decision making to improve financial performance Unit 6: Decision making to improve human resource performance

In the second year, the focus shifts to business strategy and managing change in a broader context: Unit 7: Analysing the strategic position of a business Unit 8: Choosing strategic direction Unit 9: Strategic methods: how to pursue strategies Unit 10: Managing strategic change

Students also examine the external environment in detail, including the UK economy, political factors and globalisation. A qualification in Business opens up pathways into higher education and careers in management, accountancy, finance, marketing and human resources, providing essential communication and analytical skills valued by employers.

GCSE Business

Exam Board: Edexcel

Find out more about GCSE Business: https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-gcses/business-2017.html

A-Level Business

Exam board: AQA

Find out more about our A-level Business course: https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/business/a-level/business-7132/specification

Business Level 3

Exam Board: OCR

Find out more about our Level 3 Vocational Business Course: 
​https://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/cambridge-technicals/business/#level-3

Business and Economics Teaching Team

Dr P Arko
Head of Business and Economics 
parko@bulmershe.wokingham.sch.uk

Mr J Williams
Business Teacher
jwilliams@bulmershe.wokingham.sch.uk

Mr R McAlaney
Business Studies and Economics Teacher
rmcalaney@bulmershe.wokingham.sch.uk

Mr T Allen
Teacher of Maths and Business
tallen@bulmershe.wokingham.sch.uk

Further Information

If you have any further queries, please contact the Head of Department, Dr Arko:
parko@bulmershe.wokingham.sch.uk