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 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 to enhance teaching and learning of all classes.

A Level Curriculum

We are a Sixth Form only subject and study the Edexcel Economics (A) 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 examinations at the end of Year 12 covering Theme 1 and Theme 2. As the course is linear, the students’ 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: Sessions are run by our Economics reps every Tuesday lunchtime for Years 12-13 to look at current issues and theories beyond the scope of the A Level Economics course.
• Economics Trip: Students in Year 13 have an opportunity to go to an annual speaker conference to hear from a range of engaging speakers to widen their knowledge of the subject.
• Economics Competitions: Students enter a range of competitions during their time in sixth form. In 2022 the school finished joint second in the National Finals in the IEA Budget Challenge. Students also have the opportunity to enter a range of essay competitions, such as the RES Young Economist of the Year, for which a BMS student was a national runner up in recent years.
• Twilight Support: This runs every Tuesday between 4pm and 5:30pm in the Wilden Room to help support students with Economic, as well as during Monday lunchtimes. This complements the support students receive from their teachers on a day-to-day basis