Economics

Departmental Aims

• To inspire students to study Economics as both an A-level choice and as part of their future higher education and career.
• To allow all students to meet their full potential in their A-level examinations through excellent teaching, resources and support throughout the course.
• To provide students with in-depth economic knowledge and theories to help them understand and develop their own views on current economic issues.
• To provide a range of opportunities for students to stretch their knowledge beyond the A-level specification.

Facilities

• Lessons will be taught by four full-time teachers who are all subject specialists, with a variety of real-world experience to draw from.
• The Head of Subject is an experienced external examiner for Edexcel and has written a range of published resources for Hodder Education. This allows all students to benefit from the most up to date and comprehensive set of resources and assessment materials, as well as focused examination advice.
• All rooms are equipped with ICT, including digital visualisers to enhance teaching and learning of all classes.

A Level Curriculum

We are a sixth form only subject and study the Economics A Edexcel course in Year 12 and 13. This covers the following areas as part of the linear course:

• Theme 1: Introduction to Markets and Market Failure
• Theme 2: The UK Economy – Performance and Policies
• Theme 3: Business Behaviour and the Labour Market
• Theme 4: A Global Perspective

Students will take two internal examination at the end of Year 12 covering Theme 1 and Theme 2. As the course is linear the student’s final A-level grade will be based on the following three external examinations in year 13:

• Paper 1 (35%): Markets and Business Behaviour (Themes 1 and 3)
• Paper 2 (35%): The National and Global Economy (Themes 2 and 4)
• Paper 3 (30%): Microeconomics and Macroeconomics (All Themes)

External examinations will be assessed using a variety question styles including: multiple choice, short answer questions, calculations, data response questions and essays.

Co-curricular, Enrichment, Extension and Support

• Economics Society: this runs every Tuesday lunchtime for Years 11-13 to look at current issues and theories beyond the scope of the A-level Economics course.
• Economics Competitions: students enter the IEA Budget Challenge each year and have made the UK finals in the last two years. Students also have the opportunity to enter a range of essay competitions, such as by the RES in which George Keech from BMS was a national runner up.
• Twilight Support: this runs every Thursday between 4pm and 5:30pm in the Wilden Room to help support students with Economics. This complements support students get from their teachers on a day to day basis.