The Department offers Economics and Business at A-level, and students may choose them both or separately as part of their portfolio of subjects. A specialist teacher is responsible for teaching both subjects with extensive examiner experience. Today, Economics and Business are big news, with regular media coverage across the globe. We aim to give our students the knowledge and skills to understand the workings of the economy and business organisations and have fun doing it!
Students study the AQA specification for A-level Economics and the Eduqas specification for A-level Business. Beyond the classroom, students run an Enterprise club in school, and have participated in nationwide competitions including Tycoon and Girls Are Investors stock market challenge, alongside trips to London and local organisations in Chester.
Taking Business A-level has given me a real understanding of topics and issues that are discussed on the news and just in general. I feel like it has opened a lot of doors for me as I can now participate in conversations about more 'adult' topics, and contribute to a wider range of discussions, which I wouldn’t have been able to do without taking Business A-level.
Toncsi, Year 13
Aims of Business
- To develop a critical understanding of organisations, the context in which they operate, the markets they serve and the process of adding value.
- To develop key skills through an investigative, problem-solving approach, which requires analysis and evaluation of business scenarios.
Aims of Economics
- To develop an understanding of economic concepts and theories through a critical consideration of current economic issues, problems and institutions that affect everyday life.
- To encourage students to apply economic concepts and theories in a range of contexts and to appreciate their value and limitations in explaining real-world phenomena.
Economics is a wonderful subject to take if you are interested in humanities. It fits so well with many other subjects such as history. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to have a good understanding of the world around them, not only within the UK but the rest of the world as well.
Cora - year 13
Competitions
Tycoon is a national competition that aims to develop enterprising skills amongst students in all key stages. Each team will write a business plan, receive a small business loan from the Peter Jones Foundation then trade and hopefully make a profit. It will promote internal competition amongst school teams, but there is also the chance to win a cash prize of £1,000 if a business is judged to be the best in the country. Students will gain hands-on experience in costing, branding, teamwork, planning, coordinating and running a business.
Queen’s has a history of success in competitions such as Young Enterprise and we hope to continue this.
The School has also successfully entered the Girls Schools Association Girls Are Investors Stock Market Challenge where students are mentored by an industry expert in researching an FTSE 100 company and producing a pitch to persuade investors.
I really enjoy A-level Business. It is really exciting to learn about aspects of the business world which I’d have never known about before. The variety of topics always keeps it interesting and is an amazing tool for knowledge I may need in the future.
Tilly, Year 13