Edexcel closes the gap on AQA for GCSE Business as BTEC First powers ahead

Edexcel is closing the gap on AQA as the most popular awarding body for GCSE Business Studies. However, both AQA and Edexcel’s GCSE courses have been overtaken by the BTEC First in Business which is now by some distance the most popular Level 2 specification for business students in the UK.

Our recent email survey of over 8,000 business teachers has generated over 1,400 detailed replies. We asked colleagues to name their level 2 business options, including their current awarding body. The results of this survey have been mapped against our database of all secondary schools and colleges, including academies, sixth form colleges and FE institutions offering level 2 options. The results show a significant change in the GCSE Business landscape, with the prospect of further change in 2012.

Prior to the introduction of the current GCSE Business specifications (for exams from 2010 onwards) AQA was the dominant awarding body for GCSE Business with a market share of over 55%. However, the Edexcel GCSE pilot was very well received by centres and we have tracked a consistent migration away from AQA to GCSE over the last three years as centres evaluated their choice of the new specifications.

However, this migration may slow or reverse, depending on what happens as a result of two important upcoming changes. Firstly, the switch to linear exams with effect from September 2012, and discontent over the controlled assessment process, may encourage more colleagues to review their GCSE choice over the coming months. Secondly, the review of vocational courses following the Wolf Report has led to introduction of partial exam-based assessment for the BTEC First and also a lessened impact on school league table performance. Our survey indicates that many centres offering the BTEC option are now reviewing this decision and some may revert back to a traditional GCSE option.

In terms of GCSE Business courses, our survey indicates that AQA (37% market share) now has a small lead over Edexcel (34%) for GCSE Business specifications. The other market shares by awarding body are OCR (16%), CCEA/ICAA (6%), WJEC (4%) and others (3%).

The market shares above are broadly replicated by establishment type. However, in maintained schools with sixth forms, and independent schools with sixth forms, Edexcel now has a small lead in market share. Our survey indicates that approximately 40% of Academies offer a GCSE Business option, with AQA still the most popular.

Another interesting feature of the survey results is the use of a “mixed economy” approach to Level 2 business courses. For example, 30% of centres offering AQA GCSE Business also offer the BTEC First option. A similar percentage of Edexcel centres adopt this approach as do 20% of centres offering an OCR GCSE option.

The BTEC First option has enjoyed a significant growth in recent years and it is now offered by the majority of institutions teaching a level 2 business course. For example, the number of centres offering BTEC First is 64% higher than the most popular GCSE option (AQA), as measured by the number of centres. In terms of the number of candidates, this difference may be even larger.