Economics

The Sixth Form  

Economics continues to be a popular choice amongst Cranleighans. Many enjoy the new challenges it offers them, while others seek to take a subject that has real relevance in today’s competitive market-place. Whatever the choice, someone who successfully completes the course will have a thorough grounding in analysing and evaluating the functions of the modern economy. 

Since Economics is based around the choices individuals, firms, governments and ultimately society takes, it is an opportunity for debate. It provides the framework for argument, on such diverse subjects as poverty, health-care, footballers’ wages and the environment. The goal is to use what resources we have to make ourselves better off, and it is no coincidence that people with Economics degrees are among the best-paid graduates.

The skills you require are as follows: sound mathematical ability (at least a B grade at GCSE), a scientific approach to grasping concepts, a desire to debate issues and an awareness of current affairs, such as studying the inside pages of a broadsheet each day. If you have ever watched and enjoyed “Question Time” on the BBC, then Economics is definitely for you.

We teach the OCR Economics course. In the first year you study the basic principles of Economics, with much emphasis on “real-world” applications. There is one microeconomic course (Market Systems and Market Failure) which is assessed by an external module in January, and a macroeconomic course (National and International Economy) which is assessed in June. In the second year you will concentrate on Transport Economics (micro) and on Economics in a European Context (macro and synoptic). Both topics are supported by a wealth of daily newspaper offerings, reporting government decisions on the areas we may be studying that day. In the later part of the year as you focus on European Economics it will also allow you to apply your economics to business needs as we consider the importance of Europe and greater integration. Within all of this you are encouraged to write and produce presentations, articles and to use IT packages to enhance your studies.

As a social science, halfway between arts and the sciences, Economics combines well with many other subjects at A Level. However, we do not allow you to take Economics if you are planning to take Business Studies too, as the two subjects share some common ground.