Business (A-Level)

A-Level

Business skills for a changing world. Future leaders start here.

Business is constantly evolving. From changing customer behaviours and global competition to new technologies and economic challenges, successful organisations need to understand their markets, make informed decisions and adapt to survive and grow.

A Level Business gives you an insight into how businesses operate and how the different areas of an organisation work together. You will explore why some businesses succeed while others fail, investigate local, national and global markets, and consider the strategies businesses use to respond to a changing world.

Alongside developing your understanding of business, you will build valuable analytical, research, problem-solving and decision-making skills that can support progression to university, apprenticeships and a wide range of careers.

Qualification: A Level
Location: Pendleton Sixth Form College
Academic Year: 2027/28
Assessment: Three examinations

Outline

The course is organised around four key themes.

Theme 1 – Marketing and People

Explore how businesses understand and reach their customers, build effective marketing strategies and manage the people who contribute to their success.

Theme 2 – Managing Business Activities

Develop your understanding of how businesses manage their activities and make decisions to operate effectively.

Theme 3 – Business Decisions and Strategy

Examine how organisations make strategic decisions, respond to challenges and plan for future success.

Theme 4 – Global Business

Explore how businesses operate within international markets and respond to the opportunities and challenges of a global economy.

A Level Business will help you develop a wide range of academic and transferable skills, including:

Analytical and statistical thinking
Essay writing and evidence-based reasoning
Evaluating evidence and making connections
Problem solving
Decision making
Independent research

These skills will help you evaluate business situations, interpret information and justify your recommendations using evidence.

Studying Business at Pendleton gives you opportunities to develop your skills beyond the classroom through two enrichment programmes.

Career Ready

Career Ready is a structured programme designed to build your employability and experience of the workplace.

Opportunities include:

Professional mentoring
A paid internship
Skills masterclasses
Workplace visits

The Business department works with organisations including AXA, Allianz, Turner & Townsend and Salford City Council, giving students opportunities to develop their understanding of professional working environments.

Next-Generation Entrepreneur Challenge

This annual business-planning competition gives you the chance to work as part of a team to develop an innovative business idea addressing a United Nations Sustainable Development Goal.

The challenge is delivered in conjunction with Lancaster University and gives you the opportunity to put entrepreneurial thinking, teamwork and business planning into practice.

Progression

A Level Business can support progression to university, apprenticeships and careers across a wide variety of sectors.

Marketing

Potential roles include:

Social Media Manager
Digital Marketing Specialist
Content Creator
SEO Specialist

Accounting and finance

You could progress towards professional qualifications such as ACCA or CIMA through university study or an apprenticeship route.

Wider careers

Business can also support progression into areas including:

Human Resources
Logistics and Supply Chain Management
Law
Recruitment
Sales

The broad range of analytical, commercial and decision-making skills you develop can be applied across many different industries and organisations.

Assessment

You will complete three examinations across the two-year course.

Paper 3 is based on a different business context each year, giving you the opportunity to carry out independent research and apply your business knowledge to a contemporary organisation or issue.

Entry Requirements

A combination of 5 Grade 4’s and 5’s or above at GCSE (including maths and English). * One Vocational Qualification in a related subject area will be considered in place of a GCSE. Subject Specific Entry Requirements: GCSE English Language at Grade 5

* Fees

Don’t let the cost of studying put you off – most of our students study for FREE, and those who don’t qualify for funding are very often eligible for an Advanced Learner Loan.

Eligibility depends on both the course you have chosen to study and your individual circumstances.

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Academic Yr

Select your choice below:

Name

Available At

Start Date

Fee

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Academic Yr

27/28

Name

Business (A-Level) (Level 3)

Available At

Pendleton Sixth Form College

Start Date

01/09/2027

Fee

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Academic Year