Public Limited Companies

Overview

This 100-minute lesson is designed for Year 10 AQA GCSE Business students, focusing on Public Limited Companies (PLCs). The lesson aligns with the AQA GCSE Business specification and the National Curriculum for England. It aims to develop students' understanding of the features, advantages, and disadvantages of PLCs, alongside their role in the wider economy.

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Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

• Define what a Public Limited Company (PLC) is and identify its main features (AQA GCSE Business specification 1.3.2)
• Explain the advantages and disadvantages of PLCs for investors, managers, and society
• Describe the process of flotation and the stock market’s role in PLCs
• Analyse and evaluate why some businesses choose to become PLCs
• Apply knowledge in real-life and simulated business scenarios

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Curriculum Links

• AQA GCSE Business (9131/9132), Topic 1: Business in the real world, Sub-topic: Business ownership
• National Curriculum for England: KS4 - Business and Economics – Understand different types of business ownership, including PLCs, and their characteristics
• Develop competencies in analysis, evaluation, and application of business concepts relevant to the UK economy and legal environment

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Resources Needed

• Whiteboard/Smartboard
• Printed fact sheets on PLCs
• Interactive quiz (Kahoot or Quizizz format)
• Case study printouts (for example: Tesco PLC or Vodafone PLC)
• Role-play scenario cards
• Mini whiteboards and markers for students
• Laptops/tablets (optional) for research and stock market simulation

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Lesson Structure

1. Starter Activity (10 minutes)

Activity: "What type of business?"

• Display multiple business types (sole trader, partnership, private limited company, PLC) with brief descriptions/images.
• Students discuss in pairs to match characteristics to types.
• Quick whole-class review to activate prior knowledge.
  Purpose: Refresh knowledge of business ownership forms and mentally prepare students for the focus on PLCs.

2. Introduction & Explanation (20 minutes)

Content Delivery:

• Teacher-led explanation of what PLCs are: legal status, shares offered to the public, minimum share capital, management structure.
• Use diagrams showing company ownership structure and the process of flotation on the Stock Exchange.
• Highlight key legislation and regulations surrounding PLCs to show real-world relevance.

Use of Technology:

• Short animation/video clip explaining Stock Market flotation and share trading (from AQA-approved resources).

3. Group Activity – Case Study Analysis (25 minutes)

Activity:

• Divide into 5 groups of 5 students.
• Each group receives a case study on a different PLC (e.g., Tesco, BT, Rolls Royce, Vodafone, or a fictional PLC).
• Tasks: Identify features of the PLC in the case, advantages/disadvantages it faces, and any real-world challenges
• Groups prepare a brief presentation using mini whiteboards or flipchart paper.

Skills Developed:

• Analytical reading, collaborative critical thinking, verbal communication

4. Stock Market Simulation (15 minutes)

Activity:

• Brief interactive simulation of share buying and selling using play money.
• Students 'invest' in shares of their PLCs based on case study performance and news headlines provided by teacher.
• Discuss rapid share price changes and factors impacting stock prices.

Objective: Understanding shareholder perspective and market volatility.

5. Plenary: Debate (20 minutes)

Motion: "Becoming a PLC is the best way for a business to grow."

• Split class into two teams for and against.
• Each team prepares arguments based on lesson content.
• Conduct a structured debate allowing all members to contribute.
• Teacher acts as moderator and highlights key points during summary.

6. Assessment & Reflection (10 minutes)

Assessment:

• Individual written task: Students answer two exam-style questions.
  1. Define a PLC and explain two advantages for shareholders.
  2. Evaluate why a business might decide not to become a PLC.

Reflection:

• Students use mini whiteboards to write one new thing learned and one question they still have.
• Quick round of sharing to inform future lessons.

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Differentiation

• Support: Sentence starters and key vocabulary sheets provided for lower-ability students during case studies and debate.
• Challenge: Extension tasks such as researching recent PLC news or calculating share price changes for higher-ability students.
• SEN: Additional teacher support during group work; use of visuals and simplified explanations.

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Assessment Criteria

• Correct identification and explanation of PLC features (AO1)
• Ability to analyse PLC advantages and disadvantages (AO2)
• Evaluation of business growth decisions related to PLC status (AO3)
• Participation in oral presentations and debates (AO4 – communication skills)

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Teacher Notes

• Pre-print case studies and role-play cards.
• Prepare a “newsflash” script to simulate stock news for the simulation.
• Encourage use of relevant business terminology throughout.
• Use a timer to keep activities on track within 100 minutes.

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This lesson plan fully supports the National Curriculum and AQA specification, enabling holistic understanding, practical application, and critical analysis while engaging diverse learning preferences with varied interactive activities.