Economics has long been considered the choice subject of many of society’s leaders. Economics offers us a framework by which the world can be understood. This is why, as well as studying economic theories, we also focus on real economic problems at a local, national and international level.
As a dynamic social science, economics uses scientific methodologies and applies them to:
Macroeconomics - how governments can achieve low unemployment, high growth, equity in the distribution of income and low inflation with adjustments to government spending, taxes, the rate of interest and changes in the exchange rate.
Microeconomics - how prices are determined by supply and demand, what governments can do to improve the market system and whether competition is good for society.
International and development economics - why and how countries trade, the effect of exchange rates and how developing countries can become more prosperous.
Standard Level (SL) and Higher Level (HL) students of economics are presented with a common syllabus, with an HL extension in some topics. While the skills and activity of studying economics are common to both SL and HL, HL students need to acquire a further body of knowledge (including the ability to analyse, synthesize and evaluate that knowledge) and develop quantitative skills in order to explain and analyse economic relationships (These skills are specifically assessed at HL in paper 3).
Your final mark is made up of exams and three pieces of coursework commenting on newspaper articles. The exams are all taken at the end of the course in year 13.
Students studying economics will visit the Cambridge Judge Business School, at the University of Cambridge. In addition we are planning visits to the City of London including the Bank of England. Students will also be encouraged to attend lectures given by visiting academics at the University of Cambridge.
Resources will be available in the Parkside Sixth Library. Students are encouraged to read widely including regular study of the business sections in national newspapers. They are expected to use the internet to study current global economic issues (eg www.worldbank.org).
Economics combines well with a range of other subjects within the sciences, the arts and Languages. Students with a flair for Maths for example might want to take the HL Economics option whereas students who may not be quite as confident with their grasp of Maths would study the SL option.
Entry Requirements
Standard Level - GCSE Mathematics at Grade 4 and above
Higher Level - GCSE Mathematics at Grade 6 and above
For further information
Please contact John Jones: john.jones@parksidecc.org.uk
Economics Curriculum Map
Economics Curriculum Overview