Head of Department: Mr Edward Wilson
Exam Board: AQA
Economics A-level is split into two areas. The first focuses on ‘microeconomic’ aspects where students investigate topics which explain petrol price rises, and how governments respond to problems in areas such as education and the NHS. The world of business economics is also addressed in which students examine issues such as cost, revenue and profit within a range of practical industries. Discussion covers ‘hot topics’ such as London’s congestion charge and the HS2 project.
The second area is about ‘macroeconomic’ issues. This involves learning about key measures of national economic performance and the main objectives and instruments of UK economic policy. We examine the UK tax system and the implications of government spending plans and ‘austerity’ amongst much more. International trade, globalisation, global poverty and economic growth across the world – as well as the ramifications of Brexit – are some of the thought provoking issues covered.
Students have the opportunity to enter the Royal Economics Society’s ‘Young Economist of the Year’ and enter other economics competitions. The department organises an Economics Conference which has featured speakers such as former MPC member Andrew Sentence and LSE professor Iain Begg.
At the end of the second year, students sit three exam papers: one on microeconomics, another on macroeconomics and a final one centred around a current economic issue.
Exam Results
The average of the A Level results in Economics over the most recent three year period (2024, 2023, 2022) is:
A* | 26% |
A* – A | 65% |
A* – B | 86% |