Economics & Business Studies
ECONOMICS
The aim of Economics is to show how society uses the scarce resources at its disposal. The behaviour of firms and the role of the government are amongst the topics studied. Given this question is at the centre of almost all world events, whether it be who is going to benefit from Iraqi oil reserves, or who is going to pay for the care of an ageing population in the UK, a strong interest in current affairs is a must.
A Level: At A level we will be teaching the two-year Edexcel Economics (A) course, which covers three main themes: markets and business behaviour (microeconomics); the national and global economy (macroeconomics); and microeconomics and macroeconomics in a combined synoptic paper.
Entry Requirements: Level 7 or above in GCSE Mathematics and English.
Beyond The Classroom: Pupils are encouraged to participate in the London Institute of Banking and Finance Student Investor Challenge and national essay competitions run by the London School of Economics. Field trips to the Bank of England and economics conferences are often planned. Pupils can subscribe to The Economist magazine through the school which is a highly recommended source of wider reading for economics and related disciplines.
Career Opportunities: Economics offers excellent career prospects. It can either be studied on its own at university, or in conjunction with other subjects. The basic analytical tools economists use to study resource allocation also have applications in Geography and History. Economics is also a numerate subject, so those interested in a career in engineering, mathematics and actuarial sciences will also find it useful. Most importantly, however, as a social science it bridges the Arts/Science divide, and therefore complements almost all other subjects.
BTEC National Enterprise and Entrepreneurship (Level 3)
The BTEC is a two-year course, covering the following content areas: Enterprise and Entrepreneurs; Finance; Marketing; and Running an Enterprise.
In the first year, students will learn about enterprise and entrepreneurs as well as how to develop and manage a successful marketing campaign. Key skills will be developed as student engage with real-world entrepreneurs and learn about their own business journeys. ICT and independent research skills will be strengthened, as will a student’s ability to deliver presentations and communicate with others in the business world.
The second year of the course sees students learning how to plan, establish and manage their own social enterprise. They will be expected to critically assess both successes and failures and to evaluate their own performance and that of their peers. In addition, they will learn about both personal and business finance, how to manage their own money and that of their business enterprise, and how to ensure that both they and their business remain financial solvent.
Assessment: The BTEC course is based on a two year programme of continuous assessment and this is undertaken via a variety of different methods. Pupils are able to pick up marks through the course that count towards their final qualification and there is therefore less need to stress about how they perform in a series of final examinations like they would face in the A Level.
Entry Requirements: The entry requirements are Level 5 or above in GCSE Mathematics and English.
Beyond The Classroom: Pupils are encouraged to participate in the Peter Jones Enterprise scheme, giving them the opportunity to plan, establish and manage their own small-scale enterprise. Field trips to local or national manufacturing facilities are planned for the future. Pupils are also strongly encouraged to seek work experience opportunities through internships and holiday jobs.
Career Opportunities: Enterprise and entrepreneurship is a major part of the UK’s drive to increase the employability of young people, both within the UK and also globally. Improving the understanding and skills of young people in enterprise has been identified as an area for dramatic improvement, and is part of the government’s strategic business plan. Studying enterprise and entrepreneurship will support students to be confident in starting a business, or in working innovatively in an organisation to support growth within it. The qualification is recognised and accepted by virtually every UK university.
JILL ECKFORD
Head of Economics and Business Studies
jeckford@downside.co.uk