Economics is taught at A Level, and follows the AQA course.
The course covers both micro and macroeconomics, including supply and demand analysis, markets, AD/AS analysis, and how government policy seeks to achieve economic objectives. Pupils then go on to look at economic theory in greater depth. In microeconomics, this includes labour markets, the distribution of income and wealth, the environment and market failure. In macroeconomics, pupils learn about national economy, and then cover international topics such as globalisation, trade theory, exchange rates, and the UK’s global economic links.
Politics is taught at A Level, and follows the Pearson course.
The course covers UK politics and government, and the comparative study of global politics. Pupils look at the UK constitution and how political systems and parliaments work, the nature of democracy, the role of political parties, how participation in democracy happens, and the relationship between voting behaviour and the media. The course also covers a range of political ideas, including conservatism, liberalism and socialism. In the comparative unit, pupils study issues of sovereignty and globalisation, global governance and power, regionalism and comparative theories.
Sixth Form pupils are actively engaged with current affairs. The Politics Society brings together pupils from Year 11 and above to analyse contemporary political developments. Through the Economics Society, pupils engage in thought-provoking discussions of real-world events, while aspiring Oxbridge candidates can develop their quantitative skills through independent empirical studies, formulating and testing hypotheses about social phenomena they would like to investigate. The curriculum is further enriched by visits to London, including trips to Parliament and attendance at economics lectures. Pupils participate in Model United Nations conferences throughout the year, where they represent different nation states and develop their debating skills.