Economics and Business studies

Head of Department: Nicola Morrow. Email: N-Morrow@epsomcollege.org.uk

The Economics and Business Department is the largest 6th form Department. Housed in the purpose-built Mackinder Building with six full time members of staff, all classrooms are fully equipped with the latest electronic whiteboards and audio-visual equipment.

The OCR Economics specification is offered. With 80 students currently studying AS Level and 50 at A2, this subject is thriving. Exam results are outstanding with approximately 85% A/B grades at AS. Many students go on to read Economics at university and the department has excellent results with Oxbridge applications. Additional lessons are given to Oxbridge students

The AQA Business specification is offered and around 35 students study this subject at AS and a similar number at A2. Value-added and exam results are second to none, with just under 85% A/B at AS and a similar trend at A2. The majority of students studying AS Business go on to read a Business-related degree.

Beyond the specification, the Department offers a huge amount. There is an Economics and Business society that arranges talks either at Epsom or Eton College. Past speakers have included James Caan (Dragon's Den), Peter Kenyon, Stelios Haji-Ioannou and Evan Davis.

Young Enterprise (YE) is offered to L6th students. They are invited to apply for a position on one of two YE companies. Candidates submit an application form and are then interviewed and a selection made from there. Students set up a company, with each taking an important part from managing director to marketing director.  This is a very popular activity and student projects have ranged from M4/U4 discos to personalised house pyjamas.

Students are given a taste of Finance during their L6th year as they enter a national portfolio challenge. In teams of four, they invest £100,000 in the LSE. Those with an appetite for Finance are able to study further as the SII's Introduction to Investment award is now offered to students in their U6th year. Epsom is one of the first schools to offer this award that is normally targeted towards professionals within the financial services sector. This challenging and innovative course investigates equities, bonds, derivatives and other financial assets. It is taught during one timetabled lesson per week and 10 workshop sessions, which are delivered by an outside specialist.

The top four or five Economists each year are entered for the prestigious Bank of England 2.0 challenge.  They put together a presentation for representatives of the MPC to predict the next change in interest rate to meet the MPC's 2.0% inflation target.