GCSE Applied business

Teaching Business & Economics, Summer 2003 by Uttley, Simon

GCSE Applied Business, Michael Pardon, Chris Nutall and John Prokopiw, Osborne Books Ltd, 2002, 381 pages, L14.95, ISBN 1 872962 32 7

and GCSE Applied Business : Tutor Pack (free with orders of the 15 or more of the main text book).

My first thought was "What a reassuringly chunky text book (running to 388 colourful and, therefore, photocopy-unfriendly pages) reminiscent of those fondly-remembered tomes we enjoyed with the old Intermediate and Advanced GNVQ in Business Studies."

My final thought was, in spite of the cost (L14.95 a copy), this will be a hit with students, who will find in this bullet-point-heaven the answer to, if not their dreams, then certainly any questions they might face during an applied GCSE in Business. As such, pace colleagues who are cynical about textbooks that seem to do too much at the expense of developing those now ever so trendy 'thinking skills', teachers should, on the whole, also rejoice at the arrival of this friendly and inviting resource.

Explanations are clear, succinct, straightforwardly written, generously set out in plenty of space (hence the number of pages) and well served by a reliable index.

Each section opens with a Case Study which sets the scene, followed by text with definitions and the usual stuff. Then we see the ubiquitous 'Key Terms' sections which is both up-to-date (ever heard of a 'telecottage'?) and very clear. The student then has a range of 'Activities' which are also clear, if a little simplistic on occasion, lacking the extension exercises of the other resource reviewed in this edition. The 'Nutshell Summary' at the end of the section is satisfactory, even if the green background leaves you squinting in the half-light.

At the back of the book is a web directory, which is a useful, if not invaluable bolt-on. In terms of suitability for audience, I trialled the Break Even and Balance Sheet sections with students and found these topics very well dealt with. I think this book is certainly worth buying.

As for the companion Tutor Packs, covering the three sections of the Applied GCSE Specifications, the authors have chosen to model three Sample Papers in the style of the three main examining bodies, and then offer generic papers followed by model answers. Whilst I would have preferred a book full of generic papers, leaving explanations of specific requirements to the teacher, armed with her/his own Board's Sample, this pack is very useful, especially as we make our way, explorer-like, through the unknown terrain of a new Specification.

Actually, it is useful for straight GCSE Business Studies students and even early AS, too. Therefore I would recommend that you buy at least fifteen copies of the main textbook so as to get the Tutor Pack for free.

Simon Uttley, Deputy Headteacher, St Paul's Catholic School, Milton Keynes.