Business - Central Foundation Boys' School

About the Course

At Central Foundation Boys’ School, our GCSE Business course (Edexcel specification) equips students with a strong foundation in the dynamic world of commerce and enterprise. Designed to engage curious, forward-thinking learners, this course offers valuable insights into how businesses operate, make decisions, and adapt to changing environments.

Students explore real-world business concepts such as marketing, finance, human resources, and operations, while also developing essential analytical and problem-solving skills. Through a mix of case studies, group projects, and exam preparation, our learners gain a practical understanding of how businesses succeed—and sometimes fail—in today’s competitive economy.

Whether you desire to start your own business, pursue a career in finance, or simply become a more informed consumer, GCSE Business is a fantastic stepping stone. The course not only supports academic achievement but also nurtures confidence, teamwork, and communication—key qualities for any future pathway.

KS4

The GCSE Business course at Central Foundation Boys’ School follows the Edexcel (9–1) specification and is delivered over two years:

Year 10 – Theme 1: Investigating Small Business
Students begin by exploring how businesses start and grow. This theme introduces key entrepreneurial concepts such as business ideas, market research, finance, and the external factors that influence small enterprises.

Topics include:

Enterprise and entrepreneurship
Spotting a business opportunity
Putting a business idea into practice
Making the business effective
Understanding external influences on business

Year 11 – Theme 2: Building a Business
In Year 11, students focus on how businesses expand and make strategic decisions. They study marketing, operations, finance, and human resources in the context of national and global businesses.

Topics include:

Growing the business
Making marketing decisions
Making operational decisions
Making financial decisions
Making human resource decisions

What they will learn

Throughout the course, students will:

Understand how different types of businesses operate and compete
Apply business knowledge to real-world scenarios
Analyse and evaluate business decisions
Develop commercial awareness and an understanding of the economy
Consider ethical and environmental business practices

Skills You Will Need

Success in this course requires:

Good written communication and literacy
Sound numeracy for interpreting business data
Critical thinking and problem-solving
Interest in current events and how businesses respond to change

No prior business knowledge is required—just curiosity and a willingness to learn.

How it will be assessed

100% External examination – split evenly across two papers:

Paper 1 (Theme 1) – Investigating Small Business
Paper 2 (Theme 2) – Building a Business

Each exam is 1 hour 45 minutes long
Each is worth 50% of the final grade
Papers include multiple-choice, calculation, short-answer, and extended-writing questions
Real business case studies are used to test applied knowledge

Both exams are taken at the end of Year 11.

Exam board

Edexcel – The full specification may be found: HERE and the personal learning checklist: HERE

Head of Department

Ms Gray

Email
GrayJ@cfbs.islington.sch.uk

Financial Capability

Financial capability is a key life skill and as a school we recognise the importance of all young people having the ability, knowledge and confidence to manage their money well, now and in the future. In light of this, we are pleased to announce that Central Foundation Boys’ School are working towards becoming a Centre of Excellence for financial education. We are working in partnership with Young Money to achieve this within the next school year and then to maintain and share good practice. The school has been able to secure this programme thanks to its partnership with Allianz Global Investors, who have supported the school in a number of ways, including work experience and internships and now with an investment to make the school a Centre of Excellence.

We believe that regardless of background or income level, financially informed young adults are better able to take control of their circumstances, improve their quality of life, and ensure a stable future for themselves and their families. We therefore intend to provide our students with a programme of financial education to equip them with the confidence and competence to manage their money well. Our vision is to inspire educated financial decision making for our students – now and into their future.

Financial education for our pupils will mean that in addition to learning how to manage their money, they will also learn how to become critical consumers. They will consider the risks and emotions associated with money and understand the important role that money plays in our lives.

The school will be delivering this financial education through its curriculum from Year 7 to Year 13.