Economics - Hurstpierpoint College

Economics

Economics is popular at Hurst and it presents students with an exciting opportunity to branch out into unknown academic territory.

Economics is offered in the Sixth Form as an A-level and we follow the EDEXCEL specification.

Students learn how to think logically and use theories to understand how economies operate. They learn the basic economic problem of how we divide up our scarce resources and how decisions resulting from this affect us. They also learn Macroeconomics (the study of economic growth, inflation, unemployment, international trade and government economic policy) and Microeconomics (the study of companies and different market structures).

Co-curricular opportunities

The Economics department runs a weekly discussion session for students hoping to apply for Economics related courses at university. Students benefit from an online subscription to the Financial Times, as well as the option of subscribing to the Economist magazine at a heavily discounted rate. Students also use this time to plan their entries for external essay competitions, for example the Royal Economics Society or Institute of Economic Affairs who hold annual competitions.

A trip to the City of London is offered in the Upper Sixth, and students are also able to attend a trip to Washington DC in conjunction with the Politics department during either the Lower Sixth or Upper Sixth.

        Facilities

        The department is located in the brand new humanities classrooms. These are specifically designed for small Sixth Form classes.

        Higher Education and career opportunities

        The number of students continuing Economics at university has increased significantly in recent years. The recognition of the value of a degree in this subject has led to many more students choosing various Economics-related degrees.

        Economics is highly thought of in universities. All the traditional universities offer degree courses in the subject, often combined with Politics, Philosophy, Accounting or Humanities. Career options with an Economics degree are vast and in light of the recent ‘Brexit’, we predict a rise in interest and numbers as students want to make sense of ‘Brexit’ implications. A recent study by LSE has found Economics graduates to be the highest earning post-graduation.

        Although students graduating from university with Economics degrees most commonly enter occupations in banking, accounting, management, business consultancy and government advisory work, the analysis and logical thinking involved in studying the subject means that it provides a good grounding for many alternative career paths.

        I was very impressed with the quality of Hurst College students when I met them for mock interviews prior to university application. They had a good understanding of Economics and showed a clear appetite to learn. They also appreciated the need to think analytically about the subjects they are likely to study at university, a vital skill to have. I am confident they would do well in any top quality university. Mike Barrow, Senior Economics lecturer at Sussex University