Economics at Rugby High School

Economists aspire to question every part of the knowledge we cover, from the beliefs of old theorists and the equations we study, to how the current political parties apply economic theories in their construction of economic policy.  As a topic that is never far from the global media’s attention, Economics aims to provide students with an ability to dissect and challenge the views of “experts”, world leaders and their policy choices.  We aim to build a desire in our students to inquire about the world around them, and provide them with the skill set to analyse and explain economic data to inform others.  Economics isn’t about the right and the wrong answers, it is about using the data to form balanced and evaluated arguments that provide people with the information to make their own decisions, whilst appreciating the viewpoints of others and the importance of factors outside of their control.  Lessons regularly include debate and discussion to build students' confidence in arguing their viewpoint with supporting data and theory.  This builds confidence in their ability to apply and evaluate their own arguments, whilst constructively feeding back to their peer group – skills that are vital if they choose to progress their studies further.

Economics requires a range of skills and it suits students who are “all-rounders.”   Students will need to be competent and confident with quantitative skills (Maths) but also have the ability to write well and structure an essay.  Economics covers an immense amount of technical theory and is therefore conceptual in nature; some students can therefore find it more tricky to grasp than Business, which is more descriptive in nature.

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.

Key Facts

• The course encourages you to develop an understanding of economic concepts and theories through a critical consideration of current economic issues.
• The subject matter of the modules is of particular relevance in today’s dynamic global economy. You will develop a critical approach to various economic models and methods of enquiry, applying them to a range of present day economic problems.
• The ethical and social dimensions of Economics will be included – such as the strengths and weaknesses of the market economy, the relationship between rich and poor countries, the distribution of income and wealth within a particular society and the quality of life between and within economies.

At RHS we study the Edexcel course, which is structured into four themes and consists of three externally examined papers. The four themes are:

Theme 1: Introduction to markets and market failure

Theme 2: The UK economy – performance and policies

Theme 3: Business behaviour and the labour market

Theme 4: A global perspective

 

Assessment consists of 3 papers of 2 hours duration.  The papers include multiple choice, calculation questions, short answer and extended answer questions in response to data extracts.

 

Here is a link to the Economics A Level specification: https://qualifications.pearson.com/content/dam/pdf/A%20Level/economics-a/2015/specification-and-sample-assessment-materials/A_Level_Econ_A_Spec.pdf