Economics

 AIMS 

We aim to foster a love of all things economics by providing interactive lessons that contain lots of opportunities for students to practice and develop their skills. 

CURRICULUM

We study the AQA Economics specification where students are assessed at the end of the course via three separate written examinations that last 2 hours each.

The course is split into two sections:

  • Microeconomics: the study of how consumers, workers, firms, and the government (the four agents) interact with each other in the market system. We study how the incentives that drive these four agents result in our economy functioning daily. We also look at how this ‘market system’ sometimes goes wrong and results in market failure. For example, how some people end up not being able to afford basic needs and wants, how firms don’t take into account the full costs of their actions and how we all take too little exercise.
  • Macroeconomics: the study of national and international economies. We look at indicators such as unemployment, inflation, economic growth, trade, inequality, and sustainability and how the government can influence these by altering interest rates, government spending, taxation, and legal policies.

Although the course is based on mathematical principles, the majority of the time students are assessed through extended pieces of writing (essays).

Y12: Students cover the following modules;

  • Microeconomics: Economic methodology and the economic problem
  • Microeconomics: Individual economic decision making
  • Microeconomics: Price determination in a competitive market
  • Microeconomics: The market mechanism, market failure and government intervention in competitive markets
  • Macroeconomics: The measurement of macroeconomic performance
  • Macroeconomics: How the macroeconomy works
  • Macroeconomics: Economic performance 

Y13: Students cover the following modules;

  • Microeconomics: Production, costs, and revenue
  • Microeconomics: Perfect competition, imperfectly competitive markets, and monopoly
  • Microeconomics: The labour market
  • Microeconomics: The distribution of income and wealth
  • Macroeconomics: Financial markets and monetary policy
  • Macroeconomics: Fiscal policy and supply-side policies
  • Macroeconomics: The international economy

More detailed information about the specification can be found by following this link: https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/economics/as-and-a-level/economics-7135-7136/specification-at-a-glance

FACILITIES & RESOURCES

All students have access to the following to help them excel on this course:

  • Textbooks and revision guides
  • Class resources are specifically written for QEGS students that are tailored to the course
  • Past paperwork books and revision activities to aid with independent study
  • Online activities delivered through our Google Classroom virtual learning environment

 TRIPS & VISITS

In the past we have visited London’s financial district, The Shard, The Bank of England, The London School of Economics, The Houses of Parliament, Manchester University and had guest lectures from Financial Advisors and admissions tutors for The London School of Economics.

EXTRA-CURRICULAR

Most years we take part in the Student Investor Challenge where students invest £100k of virtual money onto the London Stock Exchange. We also have an Economics Clinic to support students who require additional help.

For more information contact:

Miss P Cunningham 

Head of Humanities (Business and Economics)