Economics

Teachers: Mrs Straghan (HoD)

Facilities of  Economics in RSD
The department has one large, central room equipped with a desk top computer and data projector.  Pupils have access to a variety of textbooks and are encouraged to make use of websites such as 'tutor2u' in their study time.  The school has a subscription to both Economics Today and Economics Review magazines which are available to 6th form in the library as are revision guides and other economics books e.g. The Undercover Economist (Tim Harford)

What is economics?
Economics is concerned with the key issues facing us today including globalisation, pollution and poverty.  It is essentially about choice - why choices must be made and the consequences of those choices.

Studying economics can be compared with studying medicine. Medical students learn about the human body, what can go wrong and how to remedy it. Economics students learn how markets should work, how market failure can occur and how governments can seek to improve economic performance. 

Economics requires the ability to interpret data in both written and diagrammatical forms and a good head for numbers is useful.

Through the study of Economics pupils are given the opportunity to develop a better understanding of the world around them and so an interest in current affairs is expected from all pupils who choose to study this subject.

KS3
There is no Key Stage 3 or GCSE Economics in RSD so AS level will be the first opportunity for pupils to study this subject.

A-Level Economics
AS and A2 pupils have 9 periods per week of Economics. At AS level pupils study 2 modules - 'Markets & Prices' and 'The National Economy' and at A2 'Business Economics' and 'The Global Economy' are taught.

For more detailed information on the specification taught at RSD see the Economics Microsite on the CCEA Website.