If you're an avid follower of national and international news or are passionate about the business and finance sectors, Economics is for you. Although at first glance, Economics may seem to be all about money, it is fundamentally a people­ focused subject. Part of the social sciences group, Economics explores the full spectrum of issues that impact on financial situation and decisions. From production to consumption, Economics looks at how the world's resources are used by and distributed among individuals and organisations. This involves studying areas of politics, sociology, law, psychology and geography, at local and global levels. The two major veins of Economics are microeconomics and macroeconomics. Microeconomics looks at the behaviour and interactions of individual agenL5, such as households, companies, buyers and sellers. Macroeconomics analyses entire economies on a national or global scale, looking at issues such as unemployment, inflation, economic growth and monetary and fiscal policy. An interest in current affairs is an advantage and all students are advised to regularly read the broadsheets or suitable magazines such as the Economist. In addition to our usual co-curricular programme, the department organises dedicated national visits to see theory practically applied to dynamic UK businesses. In recent years this has included visits to London, Warwick University, Thatchers Cider and Hinkley Point. The department this year also plans to organise a trip round regional businesses to gain a UK perspective and the possible impact of Brexit on them. Pupils are encouraged to extend their learning beyond the curriculum through entering a range of essay competitions. This year, two pupils reached the finals of the prestigious John Locke Institute Essay Competition, held at Oxford University.