Lesson Plan

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Lesson Plan
Grade: Date: 18/01/2026
Subject: Business Studies
Lesson Topic: recommend and justify which employee(s) to make redundant in a given situation
Learning Objective/s:
  • Describe the legal and ethical requirements for redundancy processes.
  • Analyse business reasons that may necessitate workforce reduction.
  • Apply objective selection criteria to recommend which employees to make redundant.
  • Justify redundancy decisions using performance, skills, and attendance data.
  • Evaluate the impact of redundancy decisions on organisational efficiency.
Materials Needed:
  • Projector and screen for slide presentation
  • Printed case‑study handout (scenario)
  • Redundancy selection criteria worksheet
  • Whiteboard and markers
  • Calculator for cost calculations
 Introduction:
Begin with a brief discussion of recent headlines about companies cutting staff, linking to students' prior knowledge of business costs. Review the concept of redundancy and its role in managing financial pressure. Explain that today’s success criteria are to identify valid reasons for redundancy, apply objective criteria, and justify a recommendation.
Lesson Structure:
  1. Do‑now (5') – Students list possible reasons a business might need to reduce staff (brainstorm on board).
  2. Mini‑lecture (10') – Explain legal/ethical considerations and introduce the seven‑step selection process (use flowchart).
  3. Case study analysis (15') – In pairs, students work through the manufacturing scenario, completing the selection‑criteria worksheet.
  4. Group discussion (10') – Pairs share their shortlisted employees and reasoning; teacher facilitates critique of criteria use.
  5. Recommendation writing (10') – Individually, students write a brief recommendation justifying which employees should be made redundant.
  6. Peer review (5') – Exchange recommendations for quick feedback on justification and use of evidence.
  7. Whole‑class debrief (5') – Summarise key points and address any misconceptions.
Conclusion:
Recap the steps from business analysis to justified redundancy decisions and highlight the importance of objective criteria. Students complete an exit ticket stating one legal requirement and one ethical consideration for redundancy. Assign homework to research a real‑world redundancy case and prepare a short summary.