Edexcel GCSE Business pilot

The schools following Edexcel's pilot GCSE Business courses include some that have been teaching Nuffield-BP Business & Economics.

The pilot course has a common Unit 1 for Year 10, Introduction to Small Business. In Year 11 this will lead on to other units, providing GCSEs in Business Studies, Business and Communications, Business Studies and Economics and Applied Business.

Students who take Unit 4 in Year 11, Introduction to Economic Understanding, will finish up with GCSE Business (Business and Economics) which we expect will eventually be the preferred course for those who currently teach GCSE Business Studies and Economics (Nuffield) and want to continue in the same vein.

The best way to get information about this and other Edexcel activities is to subscribe to eBUS:GCSE Business Studies Email Support Service 2007-08. This costs about £44 but will bring you a monthly message board and a wealth of case study material. Over the year, this should be good value for money. Go to www.edexcel.org.uk. Select ‘GCSE’ and ‘Business Studies’ and look for the Noticeboard. Select ‘eBUS:GCSE Business Studies Email Support Service 2007-08, a monthly injection of new ideas’.

Alternatively go straight to eBUS GCSE Business Studies Support Service or email business.studies@edexcel.org.uk

Business Studies & Economics (Nuffield) will continue in its present form for the time being, probably until the next major overhaul of GCSEs, for which we expect teaching to start in 2009. The Nuffield Curriculum Centre continues to support this course and also is providing links to suitable activities for the pilot course. If you have any questions, please email Nancy Wall.

You can access the list of activities for the pilot course here.