Senior MBA Programme - Arcadia Global School

SMBA Overview

The Senior MBA Programme (SMBA) is an advanced, three-year entrepreneurial and financial literacy programme designed for students in Years 7 to 9. Building on the foundations of the Junior MBA, the SMBA curriculum deepens students’ understanding of business strategy, financial decision-making, global economics, and leadership. The SMBA programme mirrors the rigour of early business school study while remaining accessible, interactive, and relevant to adolescents. Students are challenged to analyse real-world case studies, develop professional financial documents, and collaborate on strategic projects that mirror the responsibilities of future entrepreneurs and business leaders. The programme was inspired by Arcadia Education’s commitment to elevating business education for young learners and continues to be enriched through the mentorship and vision of industry experts and school leadership. Grounded in the school values of Respect, Determination, Aspiration, Adventure and Integrity, the SMBA helps students develop into confident, thoughtful and ethical young leaders prepared for real-world decision-making.

Learning Goals

The Senior MBA programme aims to support students as they transition from foundational business knowledge to strategic and analytical thinking. By the end of Year 9, students will be able to:

Think strategically and analytically when evaluating business challenges.
Understand complex marketing and growth strategies used by real firms.
Collaborate effectively in diverse teams through project-based learning.
Communicate persuasively using Oracy Framework standards.
Apply global awareness by connecting business decisions to sustainability, ethics, and current economic trends.

Course Objectives

The SMBA programme aims to:

Provide a strong foundation for IGCSE and BTEC Business courses through early exposure to key concepts.
Strengthen financial literacy, including profit calculations, budgets, assets, liabilities and equity.
Build confidence in using data, analysis and financial modelling to support business decisions.
Encourage students to become ethical global citizens, reflecting Integrity, Compassion and Aspiration.
Foster aspiration and determination by engaging students in real-world style business challenges.
Enhance students’ ability to collaborate respectfully and communicate effectively.

Year 7 – Foundations of Business & Entrepreneurship

(Entry stage: introduces simplified IGCSE/BTEC themes)

What is business activity? Needs, wants, goods and services
Purpose of business and added value
Types of business activity (Primary/Secondary/Tertiary)
Classification of businesses: private vs public sector
Marketing basics: customers, markets, simple segmentation
Introduction to the Marketing Mix (4Ps)
Introduction to revenue, cost and profit
Small-scale business idea generation
Ethical behaviour and sustainability (linked to school values)

School Values Link: Respect in group work, Determination in project tasks, Integrity in ethical decisions.

Year 8 – Business Growth, Strategy & Finance

Progression stage: links directly to early IGCSE and BTEC Business concepts

Business growth strategies (internal & external)
Specialisation and division of labour
Economies and diseconomies of scale
Franchising and joint ventures
Market research: primary vs secondary
Marketing Mix advanced (promotion types, place and distribution)
Costs, pricing decisions, break-even introduction
Components of an income statement
Cash flow basics
Introduction to balance sheets
Competitive advantage and differentiation

School Values Link: Aspiration to analyse complex ideas, Integrity in financial calculations, Determination when solving analytical case studies.

Year 9 – Pre-IGCSE Business & Financial Decision-Making

IGCSE and BTEC readiness stage

Advanced marketing concepts (branding, USP, segmentation)
Business objectives and stakeholder conflict
Business structure and ownership recap
External influences (economic, legal, environmental)
Organisational structure and communication
Motivation theories (Maslow, Taylor – simplified)
Profitability analysis
Analysing case studies using IGCSE/BTEC-style questions
Preparing professional business plan documents
Leadership, teamwork and decision-making frameworks

School Values Link: Integrity in analysing financial data, Integrity in decision-making, Aspiration to reach IGCSE/BTEC-level mastery.

Assessment Framework

Formative Assessments

Students receive continuous feedback during:

Class discussions and oracy-based activities
Financial modelling and spreadsheet tasks
Group strategy exercises
Marketing and branding assignments
Written reflections and market research tasks
Analytical responses to case studies

Summative Assessment

The Senior MBA programme includes a structured summative assessment at the end of each term. These assessments measure students’ mastery of the key concepts learned during that term and their ability to apply these concepts in real-world scenarios.

Strategic Business Presentation (One Term Annually)

Once a year, students take part in a major summative project known as the Strategic Business Presentation. This capstone-style assessment is designed to replicate an authentic business experience and prepare students for IGCSE/BTEC-style project work, financial analysis, and professional presentation skills.

The project culminates in a Shark Tank-style pitch, where students present their business idea to a panel of school leaders, teachers, and where possible external professionals or partner companies. This industry-linked experience allows students to gain real-world insight, receive expert feedback, and practise high-level oracy and persuasion skills in a competitive yet supportive environment.

Senior MBA (SMBA) Programme