1. What is the curriculum rationale in Business, Economics & Enterprise?

Intent: purpose and values of Business, Economics and Enterprise

Studying Business, Economics or Enterprise contributes to becoming a more aware consumer, producer and citizen. Business, Economics and Enterprise have a unique perspective in that they encourage students to become more original with their ideas, and innovative and open-minded in their problem solving and their approach to the world around them. Students learn to analyse the situation, apply theory and models, and are given the skills to evaluate the options whilst reflecting on their own thought processes. This approach is ever more important in the fast-changing world in which we live. The world throws up novel challenges so we need creative thinkers in order to develop original ways of solving these issues.

We develop students’ understanding by using a wide range of recent case studies, extracts of financial accounts, relevant business news items and practical research tasks. We also focus on the softer skills such as leadership and communication skills which are integral to the success of modern life. We provide students with opportunities both within and outside of the classroom to develop their leadership skills. For example, through the popular Manchester Airport Dragons’ Den competition. We aim for all students to develop business acumen, financial awareness, economical understanding and digital literacy. Business Economics or Enterprise will achieve this whilst promoting and integrating ethics, values and cultural awareness.

At the heart of the Business, Economics and Enterprise curriculum is perfecting the skills of knowledge acquisition, application, analysis and evaluation. We want all students to become fluent in these skills giving them the ability to be an informed communicator and decision-maker in the workplace.

2. What is the 'big picture' in Business, Economics & Enterprise?

The ‘big picture’ outlines how the Big Ideas and areas of knowledge of each subject fit together.

Our Big Ideas focus on understanding the ways in which experts in the field of Business, Economics and Enterprise approach the world.

The Big Ideas are:

There are four key areas of knowledge which are necessary to become a subject expert in Business, Economics & Enterprise:

1. Conceptual understanding: That our students build declarative knowledge (knowing that) of:
   • The key facts and concepts e.g. functional areas in Business or the environment in which the entrepreneur operates in Enterprise
   • Microeconomics and Macroeconomics
   • Models, theories and formulae
2. Procedural fluency: That our students build procedural knowledge (knowing how to)
   • Apply theories and models and perform calculations
   • Analyse data and information
   • Evaluate options
   • Conduct research
3. Disciplinary knowledge: That our students understand the practices of Business, Economics and Enterprise: the ways in which situations, data and information are analysed and used to reach decisions and judgements, and problems are solved through original thinking and insightful analysis
4. Language: That our students can communicate compellingly and convincingly including through their digital literacy

3. What does knowledge look like in Business, Economics and Enterprise?

4. What do we teach and when?

5. What do we assess and when?

6. Where are the Business, Economics and Enterprise Knowledge Organisers?