Economics Department
Curriculum
The department provides GCE Advanced level in years 12 and 13 for the academic year 2008-9. Additionally in the academic year 2008-9, the department will provide the teaching of IB to the standard and the higher level. The Economics follows the Edexcel scheme of work for AS and A2:
2008-9 the syllabus changes and there are four units instead of six. Lower sixth will be invited to follow this course:
Unit one: Competitive markets how they work and why they fail
Unit two: Managing the economy
Unit three: Business Economics and economic efficiency
Unit four: The global economy
The course is assessed by examinations in both units and has a good record as an interesting and challenging qualification.
The IB is designed to provide Students with core knowledge of the workings of the subject, to encourage critical thinking and to promote the international aspect of the subject. The global aspect is designed to encourage the study of the subject in the world economy.
The subject is firstly divided into micro and macro Economics. The micro section deals with how individuals make economic decisions in the market place both in the household and in firms. The higher level deals with the Theory of the Firm which is the theoretical understanding of business Economics. Macro Economics introduces the student to the calculation of national income, the problems of unemployment and inflation and the demand and supply policies to counter these problems. The International Economics section is involved with the operation of trade and the world trading blocs as well as exchange rates and the WTO. Development Economics is designed to help students understand the problems of developing worlds and the solutions to these problems.
As well as written assessment at the end of the course, the students must produce a portfolio of four commentaries. These are based upon published extracts from the media and enable the students to show correct use of terminology, application of economic concepts and evaluation techniques. The commentaries should be documents of approximately 750 words and should be the students’ own work. This course should appeal to the student who wishes to base their study on a sound theoretical basis and develop their understanding of real world Economics. The subject is offered at standard and higher level in the IB and is in group three, individuals and society.
Success in the Department
There have been a number of students achieving success by attaining places at Oxbridge over the past three years. In 2005, Helen Ralston went to Trinity College, Cambridge. In 2006, Nishi Patel went to Oxford to read Economics and Management. In 2007, Sam Thorne went to Downing to read Economics and Bodil Isaksen has a provisional place for this year to read Economics
