Business Studies GCE AS/A Level Block D

Applications Open: - 7th November 2025

Applications Close: - 31st March 2026. If you require any further information after our closing date please do contact nicola.owenhughes@swale.at

Entry Requirements: - Grade 4 and above in 5 GCSEs Including English and Maths for Level 3 programmes, higher grades are required for some subjects

How to Apply: - Please apply via KentChoices

Details of our Pathways and Option Blocks can be seen in the Gallery or viewed here

If you have any questions regarding the Sixth Form, our courses, facilities or our application process, please do contact us, either by telephone (01233 614613) or email (tns-sixthform-team@swale.at). We will be happy to arrange either a telephone call or meeting to answer these. We are happy to forward subject specific questions to subject leaders who may be better placed to answer your queries. We look forward to hearing from you and to meeting you.

Business A level is an alternative Applied Business. This course is most appropriate for those students who have a strong interest in the subject or have a wish to progress to Higher Education, studying a Business-based course.

Whilst we encourage applicants to state a preference for either Applied or A level Business courses, a final decision on which course may be most suitable will not be made until September and the students GCSE grades are known.

In Year 1 the course covers the main functions of a business:

• Operations

• Marketing

• Management

• Finance

• Production

• Human Resources

In Year 2 these fundamentals are applied to developing business strategy and understanding the competitive nature of the business environment.

More information can be found here:

https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/business/as-and-a-level/business-7131-7132/introduction

Students must also be prepared for the fact that this course is entirely assessed by examination at the end of two years of study.

Students will require a minimum of five A*-C/9-4 grades at GCSE, including English Language at level 6 and Mathematics at level 5.

Students can take this course alongside other Level 3 courses and progress to study Business Studies or other courses at university. Alternatively, the skills that have been learnt will enable students to work effectively in the workplace if they choose to move on to an apprenticeship or job in industry. The course will combine well with any other Level 3/A-Level subject and will help all students prepare for every possible career.