High Street, Tonbridge,
Kent, TN9 1JP
There are typically seven or eight sets per year in Economics, and academic standards are high. In 2008, 92% of our 51 economists posted grades A-B. The year before, of our 48 A level Economics students, all achieved grades A-C with 43 at grades A and 3 grades B. In 2007, at AS level, 51 of our 63 candidates achieved grades A-B. It is a measure of the Department’s success that considerably more than half of our students go on to read Economics, PPE, Economics and Management and related courses. Many apply to Russell Group Universities.
The Economics Department teaches Markets and Market Failure (ECON1) and the National Economy (ECON2) in the Lower Sixth. In the Upper Sixth, Business Economics & the Distribution of Income (ECON3) and the National & International Economy (ECON4) are the two modules studied.
The Social Science Faculty has a staff of nine, seven of whom can teach Economics (and at least one other subject). The Economics Department has grown substantially in the last seven years and it is now one of the largest in the Sixth Form. The Faculty is housed in eight separate classrooms, and there is a Faculty office. Each classroom has its own computer and data projector. Interactive whiteboards (or equivalent) are gradually being rolled out throughout the Faculty.
The Economics Department regularly prepare and enter a team into the annual Bank of England "Target 2.0" competition. A team of 4 Upper Sixth Tonbridge economists won this prestigious competition in 2006, and the prize money of £10,000 has been used to significantly enhance the Social Science Faculty space. This includes a professionally-commissioned five frame wall-hung mural depicting economic, political and business developments since Adam Smith up to the present day. In 2007, another Tonbridge team reached the National Final of the same competition.
In the October half-term, the Faculty runs a highly successful trip to New York City and Washington DC; this is primarily designed for Politics students who are studying American Government and Politics at the time, although the trip includes several visits that are of interest to students of Economics and Business Studies.
There is an active Social Science Society which meets at least once per term (previous speakers have included Lord Lamont, David Smith, and Stephen King) and a sixth form political discussion group meets fortnightly.