Business Studies:Single

Course summary

Driven by the staff's infectious enthusiasm for their subject, Economics at KES is both challenging and contemporary. We are passionate about the study of Economics and economic systems, both past and present. Our focus in the department is in the application of micro- and macro-economics to domestic and international markets. This interest all extends to the political aspects of economic policy making. Economics is a fascinating subject which looks at the fundamental forces which affect our lives. It includes the study of how people behave and interact with each other and helps pupils to understand why and how the world functions as it does. It provides a new perspective on some of the most pressing and challenging problems facing society. Economics is about more than wealth creation or peaks and troughs in financial markets and their effect on business performance. Economics impacts on many aspects of our lives – interest rate fluctuations, levels of taxation, unemployment, international trade and poverty to name but a few. In a world where there is increasing debate about the use of scarce resources, a knowledge of economics can equip pupils with the skills to question what is the best way to allocate these resources more effectively. We aim to make sure that pupils from all key stages are involved in trips, talks and lectures, either in or out of school, as well as utilising ICT to enhance their work. GCSE GCSE Business Studies is a popular course, where we follow the AQA specification. The GCSE is designed to pick up themes learned in the Year 9 Economics and Business Understanding course as well as introduce pupils to new functional areas. The philosophy behind the department’s teaching is to use real-life business examples to hang theory and models from to generate learning of the subject. Trips to small and medium sized firms, both locally and nationally, are designed to aid that learning and bring elements of the course to life. A LEVEL We offer two courses at A Level: Economics and Business Studies. Economics covers the theory behind explaining what economic data is telling us and how to understand news reports about domestic and international economic decisions. In this course, pupils learn about both micro- and macro-economics, but the department recognizes that, whilst these are discrete components, Economics is still just one subject and should be treated as such. Business Studies uses real life business examples to hang theory and models from to generate learning of the subject. To aid this we have links with a number of Bath based SMEs who are happy to share their enthusiasm for business with our sixth form pupils. The course aim is to get pupils to see business as a dynamic whole with each component function impacting upon another.