Economics
Welcome to Economics
In the Economics Department we prepare learners to change the world by giving them an understanding of how the world works. The skills and knowledge gained across the course allow learners to develop their critical and analytical thinking and develop transferable skills that can be used across their chosen academic subjects and beyond. In essence we develop a culturally aware student who understands their actions have ripple effects across the world.
Email the department: mcleana@uptonhigh.co.uk
Curriculum
Intent
To ‘Shape the Future’ we need to understand the world around us. In Economics we strive to cultivate a lifelong passion for economics, by developing enquiring minds with unparalleled analytical tools to interpret the world around them.
Never has an understanding of Economics been more relevant than it is today. Economic thinking has been critical to the recovery of countries after seismic events such as world wars, stock market crashes, natural disasters and worldwide pandemics. As the generation who will pay for the economic and political decisions made today it is imperative that they not only understand the reasoning behind such decisions but also the consequences.
It is our intention to enable our students to be multi-visionary, able to look at problems from many different perspectives. Alongside the fundamental economic analysis, students will be challenged to consider the ethical principles and moral problems which so often arise when implementing public policy. It is our intention that students not only know about our world but will also challenge them to consider how best to live in our world. In essence we aim to develop a culturally aware student who understands their actions have ripple effects across the world.
Economics is a mixed ability option and high expectations are fundamental to the department. All learners are appropriately challenged irrespective of their ability. We ensure the level of challenge is high enough for the most able, with scaffold and support available for learners who need it. We recognise that some of our learners may face difficulties in accessing our curriculum due to gaps in cultural capital and/or lack of immersion in real world events. To this end we promote quality teaching and learning utilising subject specialists to enable the decomposition of complex topics to be relatable to all. All learners have access to course companions and revision guides are provided free to those learners in need.
As a natural part of virtually all lessons, learners are encouraged to look at what is happening in the world at all levels and to try and understand the issue and often the solution through the eyes of an economist. This not only helps their learning, but also, it shows them the relevance and significance of the subject in today’s society.
Economics is a course that requires a good level of literacy and numeracy and, at A level at least, gives learners an opportunity to develop their critical analysis and evaluation skills. The ability to use data and sources to support extended essay answers is key. It allows learners of economics to learn and apply reasoning skills, while also gaining insight into how to interpret the frequent current affairs, politics and news stories related to the economy at home and abroad. The course includes challenging opportunities for students to interrogate their own existing belief systems and achieve an objective appreciation for the decision making of economic agents (Should we privatise the NHS is a favourite debate of past learners).
Economics touches on - and is intertwined within - a wide variety of broad subject areas including mathematics, business, politics, geography, history, sociology and more. This is a course which inspires and provides future preparation for a huge range of careers, from banking to environmental science, and learners will have their eyes opened wide to issues they may have previously taken for granted, but which are fundamental to their life-long learning and participation as global citizens.
In the Economics Department we prepare learners to change the world by giving them an understanding of how the world works. The skills and knowledge gained across the course allow learners to develop their critical and analytical thinking and develop transferable skills that can be used across their chosen academic subjects and beyond. In essence we develop a culturally aware student who understands their actions have ripple effects across the world.
They also help them develop a deeper interest in the development of economics in the real world and the impact of this on the UK and world economies. Students also have opportunities to debate and tackle issues of morality such as debt, poverty, trade and aid, nationalisation vs privatisation and the role of the state in managing the economy.
Some of the specific skills you develop include:
- communication - presenting ideas in a well-defined framework and supported by evidence that uses complex data
- numeracy - handling complex data and techniques of mathematical and statistical analysis
- problem-solving
- analytical skills
Key Stage 5
Learners follow the EDEXCEL ‘Economics A’ Specification.
A-Level Economics A (Edexcel)
http://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-a-levels/economics-a-2015.html
The course is split into 4 Themes covering a variety of Microeconomic and Macroeconomic concepts.
Microeconomic
- Theme 1 Introduction to markets and market failure (Year 1)
- Theme 3 Business behaviour and the labour market (Year 2)
Economics is a social science and is essentially all about scarcity and choice, helping to provide answers to how consumers, producers and governments make difficult choices over how much to consume and how to allocate resources fairly and efficiently to gain maximum benefit for all.
Macroeconomic
- Theme 2 The UK economy (Year 1)
- Theme 4 A Global Perspective (Year 2)
As well as finding out how consumers and firms make choices, you will also learn more about the economic factors affecting national and global decisions such as BREXIT.
Economics is a highly regarded academic subject and is relevant to a wide range of careers and further study such as law, finance, management and even medicine. It works well in combination with any other subject and will appeal to any student who is interested in current affairs and the world around them.
See our Learning Journey for further details:
Further details: Key Stage 5
Enrichment
To help them develop a deeper interest in the development of economics in the real world and the impact of this on the UK and world economies. Learners also have opportunities to debate and tackle issues of morality such as debt, poverty, trade and aid, nationalisation vs privatisation and the role of the state in managing the economy.
Some of the specific skills you develop include:
- communication - presenting ideas in a well-defined framework and supported by evidence that uses complex data
- numeracy - handling complex data and techniques of mathematical and statistical analysis
- problem-solving
- analytical skills
Learners will also be given opportunities to attend guest lecture series provided by higher education providers and to attend exam-booster workshops with Tutor2U to aid with preparation for their examinations in Year 2 of the course.
Department Staff & Responsibilities
Miss A. McLean - Head of Department
Homework
The department utilises a variety of homework tasks including:
- Consolidation tasks set in lessons and Past paper questions
- Independent reading and research
- SENECA tasks
- Retrieval Practice and Quizzes
In Conjunction with this learners have access to E-Revision and UPLEARN to utilise in Directed Learning hours.
Feedback
The Economics department follows the whole school feedback policy. Feedback is regularly given in lessons during retrieval practice and questioning. Written feedback is provided for specific pieces of work and assessments, which are recorded and kept separate to class notes in their assessment and feedback folder.
Assessment
Key Stage 5 assessments will replicate the assessment requirements of Edexcel and will utilise multiple choice questions, Short Answer and Data Response Extracts based on Edexcel past paper questions and are completed at the end of modules within each theme.
In conjunction with this learners will also undertake two PPE exams each year in line with the whole school assessment schedule.
