Economics and Business Studies
Plymouth College offers AS/A level and GCSE courses in
Economics & Business Studies and an Economics
course for the International Baccalaureate (IB).
Aims and Philosophy
On leaving full-time education, young people are expected to
participate in the world of work - the world of economic and
business decisions. This world is full of uncertainty and jobs are
no longer for life so youngsters need to be able to approach the
future in a flexible manner. They are required to find ways of
solving problems and dealing with a range of perspectives in many
different situations. The GCSE course aims to give them these
skills, making significant use of Information Technology along the
way.
The AS/A level syllabus assumes no previous study of
Economic and Business Studies (indeed each year, several of its
participants are new to the subject), but it also provides a
natural progression from the GCSE. The course is designed to give
students the wherewithal to use economic and business terminology,
concepts and methods and be able to make informed evaluative
judgements. Developing a spirit of engagement and self-motivation
through active, investigative learning leading to an enduring
interest in, enthusiasm for and knowledge of the business
environment is a very important intention of the programme. This A
level is good preparation for those going to university to study
one of a range of economics or business related courses, or for any
number of disciplines for that matter
The Economics section of the IB is
designed to enable students to develop their critical thinking and
their ability to develop as independent learners and at being able
to recognise bias. In addition, it builds core knowledge of
economics and an awareness and understanding of internationalism in
economics. It, too, is an ideal preparation for economics or
business related courses.
Course Content
The GCSE Edexcel course is
modular, pupils sitting an exam paper - Introduction to Small
Business - at the end of Year 10, together with an internally
assessed piece of controlled assessment. In Year 11, there is
a final exam, worth the remaining 50% of marks and entitled
Introduction to Economic understanding.
The A level operates on a modular
system. We follow the Edexcel Economics & Business
syllabus. At the end of the first year, two units
are examined, with two further units assessed at the end of the
Upper Sixth.
The IB in Economics is based on four major topics -
Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, International Economics
and Development Economics
Resources
Frequent use is made of the IT suites for all classes. The
department has its own two classrooms, both of which have full
interactive whiteboard equipment.
Extra-Curricular
The Department offers numerous opportunities beyond the
classroom. There is a string of successes that we have
achieved in national competitions for our sixth formers.
These include:
- IFS Student Investor national finalists for consecutive years
from 2005 to 2009 and winners in 2004 (out of 1000 participating
schools).
- CIMA management national winners 2005, 2007, 2008.
- Ogden Business Trust South-West winners 2006, 2008.
- Young Consumer Competition South-West winners 2006, 2007.
In the Lower Sixth, students also have the chance to be a member
of a Young Enterprise Company and emulate our 2009
students, 'Affinity', who won the National
Competition.
Special Information
For several years we have had remarkably strong results.
From 2002-9 all A level candidates (a total of 173) passed their
exams, with 77% securing A or B grades. In 2006 and 2008, we
had two students placed in the top five nationally. Even better, in
2009, Plymouth College students occupied first, second, third and
fourth positions in the whole United Kingdom for this syllabus!
At GCSE level over the last ten years there have been a total of
288 students. Of these, 96% passed at A*-C, including 41% at
A* or A. Here, too, we feature strongly among the top
national performers, one finishing third in 2008.