Economics

Economics is a popular A Level choice at St. Bede’s.  Its success is due in large part, to being a course which is interesting, challenging, topical and wide-ranging.

Those studying Economics in the Sixth Form will be following the course offered by the OCR Examination Board.

ECONOMICS IN LOWER SIXTH

The topics we cover in the two Advanced Subsidiary (AS) Modules in Lower Sixth will help you understand many of the key issues which dominate the news:

Markets in Action                                                                            (25% of the final mark)

  • Why is there so much tax on cigarettes and petrol?
  • Why are seat prices so expensive at Manchester United?
  • Will Congestion Charging end Manchester’s traffic jams?
  • What can the Government do to encourage Recycling?

The National & International Economy                                (25% of the final mark)

  • Is the world economy heading for another 1930’s recession?
  • What went wrong at HBOS and Bradford & Bingley?
  • What happens when the Bank of England raise Interest Rates?
  • How did Zimbabwe get 11,000,000% inflation per year?


ECONOMICS IN UPPER SIXTH

Those students continuing to A2 will study two further units.  The ‘Economics of Work & Leisure’ and ‘The Global Economy’.

Economics of Work and Leisure                                         (25% of the final mark)

  • Is the recent rise in the National Minimum wage such a good idea?
  • Is Robinho really worth £30million to Manchester City?
  • Why do Lawyers earn more than Nurses?
  • What effect do Trade Unions have on wages?


The Global Economy                                                                        (25% of the final mark)

  • Is the Euro really such a bad thing after all?
  • Why does the value of Sterling go up and down?
  • Today 75% of the world’s population live in the Third World and by 2025 this will rise to 84%. One-third live on less than £250 per year. Does it matter?
  • What is ‘Globalisation’, the I.M.F., the W.T.O. and the World Bank?

STUDENTS’ WORK

CLASSWORK:  Expect your lessons to vary and be a mixture of note-taking, discussion, group-work, videos, use of computers, etc.

HOMEWORK:  You will have one major homework per teacher per week.  This could take a number of different forms.  In addition to essays and data-response questions you might do independent research for a presentation to the group.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

During the course, there will be a number of exercises requiring you to make use of computers. There are Computer models of the Economy that will show you some of the problems experienced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer!

VISITS

The Department organises a biennial overseas study visit during the February half term.  These have proved very popular and to date, we have taken groups to Brussels & Strasbourg / Dublin & Galway / Paris & Cologne / Milan & Rome / Madrid & Barcelona / Moscow & St. Petersburg. In October 2007, we visited New York & Washington for our second time.


LECTURES & OTHER ACTIVITIES

Closer to home, we have attended day courses at Salford University, Manchester Metropolitan University and Manchester University.  In addition, the Department organises and hosts its own A Level Economics Conference. We also participate in a number of national competitions aimed at A Level Economics students.

GCSE REQUIREMENTS

There is no requirement for you to have studied Economics at GCSE Level and some of our most successful students start the subject in the Sixth Form.  Economics in the Sixth Form does not demand a level of mathematical ability beyond GCSE standard.

WHY CONSIDER ECONOMICS IN THE SIXTH FORM?

There has rarely been a more important and interesting time for you to study Economics.  The ‘Credit Crunch’, rising Unemployment, the near collapse of huge financial multinationals such as HBOS, AIG, Lehmans and Bradford & Bingley, President Bush trying to raise $700billion to safeguard the American financial system,  Rising petrol and food prices, Sustainability, the list goes on!   If you are interested in current affairs and in finding out the underlying causes and consequences of crucial issues like these, then Economics will excite and challenge you.

Many of our A Level students go on to study Economics or a related subject at University.  The career prospects for those with an Economics or related degree are varied and encouraging.  Jobs include working in the civil service, local government, banking, insurance, accountancy and management.  The list does not end here and Economists are found in many other manufacturing and service industries.

Economics, lying as it does between the Arts and the Sciences is a suitable subject to complement either group.  Combined with subjects such as Mathematics and Physics it can widen opportunities to include Management options.  Combined with Modern Foreign Languages it provides an excellent basis for those looking to work abroad or in a company with overseas links while for Politics students it offers a valuable insight into the workings of the economy.

FURTHER INFORMATION
Should you require any more information, please speak to one of the Economics staff: Mr.McKeogh, Mr.Glancy, Mr. Gallagher, Mr.Grierson or Miss Delaney in H8 / H9 / H10 / H17.