ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS STUDIES – THE ... - Epsom College

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ACADEMIC EPSOM Head of Department Paul Gillespie with 6th Form students Doing the business In the current recessionary climate, the economy and business are big news, with regular media coverage and extensive exposure in books and films. The higher profile gained by the business sector in recent years has seen Economics and Business Studies shake off their reputation as somewhat pedestrian subjects taken mainly by budding accountants or bankers.They are now seen as exciting areas of study that provide a broad insight into the world of business and are attracting more and more students nationwide into their ranks. The College’s Economics and Business Studies Department mirrors this trend with the number of students opting to study A level Economics increasing by 50% over the past two years. “It has been interesting to walk into bookshops and see the bestseller lists full of economics and business books covering a huge range of topics from How to Make Life Choices to The Banking Crises”, said Head of Department Paul Gillespie. “When you also consider the domination of the news by current economic affairs, not to mention the success of TV programmes such as The Apprentice and Dragons’ Den, it is not surprising to see the surge of interest in these subjects.” Exam results for Economics are outstanding with well over 60% gaining an A grade and 90% either A or B grades at A2 last year. Many go on to read Economics at university and the Department has excellent results with Oxbridge applications. A similar success story is evident in the case of Business Studies, with 83% of entrants achieving A or B grades at A2 last year. Interestingly, a large number of students studying Business Studies in the 6th form go on to read a business-related degree at university. For those with an appetite for investment and finance, there are now even more opportunities to broaden their business horizons in the shape of the Securities & Investment Institute’s Introduction “When you also consider the domination of the news by current economic affairs, not to mention the success of TV programmes such as The Apprentice and Dragons’ Den, it is not surprising to see the surge of interest in these subjects.” 2 www.epsomcollege.org.uk
ACADEMIC EPSOM to Investment Award programme for students in the U6th. Epsom is one of the first schools to offer this programme, which is normally targeted at professionals in the financial services sector.The challenging and innovative course investigates equities, bonds, derivatives and other financial assets. Also new is the Investment Club, run by Chemistry master David Schofield, who spent 12 years working in the City in investment banking before becoming a teacher. Open to L6th students, the Investment Club takes part in the annual Shares4Schools competition against other schools in the UK where participants are provided with an investment pot of £1,500 and attempt to maximise the value of their portfolio over an eight month period. This competition, as well as the online IFS Student Investor Challenge, which is entered by all L6th students, provides the opportunity to develop analytical, team-working and business skills, whilst bringing a “real world” approach to learning. In addition,Young Enterprise (YE) is offered to L6th students as an extra-curricular activity and one of this year’s YE companies, Prism, has been particularly successful in winning the Best Marketing Strategy trophy at the Surrey Finals of the YE competition. Students also regularly attend Eton College’s Keynes Society talks, while the Epsom College Economics and Enterprise Society, organised by the students themselves, successfully arranges talks by leading business luminaries. Recent speakers have included Jeff Randall, former business editor at the BBC, Rob Shaw, joint managing director of fashion chain Jack Wills, and Old Epsomian Tony Fernandes, founder of AirAsia and the Tune Group. COLLEGE YE COMPANY BAGS MARKETING PRIZE AT SURREY FINALS A group of L6th formers took the trophy for the Best Marketing Strategy at the Young Enterprise Surrey Finals held at the School of Management at Surrey University this term. Prism, a company set up and run since last September by 11 College students, was one of nine finalists to win through from a field of 70 that competed in area competitions earlier in the year. The companies were judged on their trade stand, company report and a presentation given to a packed auditorium. At the beginning of the evening, the students answered questions from the judges while they manned their trade stand and later told the audience about their experiences and what they had learnt during the year. The standard of presentation was very high and Prism was delighted to be awarded the Best Marketing Strategy trophy, which was sponsored by Proctor and Gamble. The judges commended the enterprising students on their approach to marketing the company, which acts as a wholesaler to schools in the area. Prism has had a remarkably successful year working on a variety of projects, including selling friendship bracelets and candy canes and importing “Onesies” from overseas. Well over 500 of the all-in-one tracksuits have now been sold. “The pupils have learnt a great deal about innovation, business and the successful launching of a company in an uncertain economic climate. The fact that they were judged as having the best marketing strategy out of 70 companies speaks highly of the calibre of the pupils,” said Head of YE, Lizzie Irvine. www.epsomcollege.org.uk 3
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ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS STUDIES – THE ... - Epsom College

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