Economics (Senior - Academic Curriculum)

Economics has long been thriving at the School. It is a highly popular subject with the vast majority of students continuing to the Upper Sixth and several students going on to read Economics at university. It is a challenging course and over the two years we study a variety of topics on a UK, European and Global basis. In studying micro economics we develop a diagrammatic model of how we expect the economy to work and use it to both predict and explain real world events. The diagrammatic nature of micro economics requires a good knowledge of mathematics and is an excellent complement to A Level mathematics. Macro economics studies UK and global issues and events and their impact on factors such as employment, income distribution and the standard of living. Invariably students enjoy studying this subject.

Business Studies

Business Studies is a recent addition to the curriculum that has rapidly expanded to two Lower and Upper Sixth (Years 12 and 13) classes. Several students have already gone on to read marketing and international business at university, which is a testament to the interest it engenders. It entails the study of various business topics such as marketing, finance and motivation and requires strong analytic and critical skills as well as the ability to reach logical argued judgments. Reading around the subject and an enquiring mind are prerequisites for success. A question for prospective students to consider is whether Mc Donalds are a brand in long-term decline: can a brand associated with high calorie, high fat burgers survive the shift in consumer preferences towards health food and respond successfully to new healthy fast food competitors such as Subway? Has the film Supersize Me, the Mc Libel fiasco and the farcical addition of high calorie salad to the menu irreparably damaged their relationship with the customer?