Economics

Curriculum Organisation

Students have three lessons per week in Year 11 and are taught in mixed ability groups, which are allocated depending on which option block is chosen. Course books are ‘Starting Economics’ (Stanlake) and Economics (Moynihan and Titley).

Independent Study

Students will be given a set of resources, notes and a reading schedule for each section they study. This will enable students to catch-up on missed work if absent or give them the chance to read ahead in preparation of future lessons. Each section will have a variety of tasks and extension work.

Students are expected to read outside of lessons. They will be given page numbers on each reading schedule they receive, which relates to the two course books. They should be making notes from the pages indicated, either on flash cards or by using PowerPoint. Students should also take an interest in ‘real’ economic issues, by reading the ‘business’ newspapers.

Each half-term there will be an assessment, as follows:

1st half-term Market failure test
2nd half-term Mock exam
3rd half-term Section B test
4th half-term Macro test
5th half-term Coursework exam test
6th half-term Real GCSE exams!

Assessment and Reporting

Students will be assessed against ‘real’ GCSE criteria throughout the year and these will be used to grade students accordingly for reporting. Student progress will be monitored using a departmental tracking sheet and targets will be set from this data, as appropriate. Students will also be expected to set their own targets at the end of each work booklet. Extension tasks will also be set to further the knowledge of high achieving students.

Extra Curricular Opportunities

Students will get the chance to participate in an Enterprise project. This will be run as a lunchtime club.

Area of study: Market Failure (syllabus codes 13.1 – 13.); Macroeconomics (syllabus code 14.1)
Specific content:  Market Failure, Circular Flow, Economic Cycle, Inflation
Learning objectives:  Will be written on unit frontsheets (on this site here) ** link to be put here **
Extension opportunities:  Will be written on frontsheets

Spring Term

Area of study:   Macroeconomics (syllabus codes 14.1 to 14.3)
Specific content:  Economic Growth, Unemployment, Balance of Payments, Government Policies
Learning objectives:  Will be written on unit frontsheets (on this site here) ** link to be put here **
Extension opportunities:  Will be written on frontsheets

Summer Term

Area of study:   Macroeconomics (syllabus code 14.1 to 14.3)
Specific content:  Government Policies, Trade, European Union
Learning objectives:  Will be written on unit frontsheets (on this site here) ** link to be put here **
Extension opportunities:  Will be written on frontsheets

Useful Websites

AQA exam board course specification http://www.aqa.org.uk/qual/pdf/AQA-3144-W-SP-09.PDF
AQA exam board past examination papers and mark schemes http://www.aqa.org.uk/qual/gcse/eco_assess.php
Tutor2u revision materials http://www.tutor2u.net/
BBC Economics News search http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/default.stm
S-Cool revision site http://www.s-cool.co.uk/default.asp
Guardian Economics News search http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/economics
Biz-Ed revision materials http://www.bized.co.uk/