GCE Economics A from September 2015
A level Economics A from 2015 is the successor to the A level (2008) Economics qualification.
Course structure
The content of the course has been divided into four themes to be taught over two years. If you are delivering the A level there is no prescribed order but if you are planning to enter students for the AS level exams in the summer 2016 series you must teach Themes 1 and 2 in the first year because the AS exams assess the content of Themes 1 and 2.
You may choose to teach Themes 1 and 2 in parallel with, for example, two teachers taking a theme each and delivering that theme for the year. If you do this, it is important to be aware that A level Paper 3 at the end of the second year seeks to make links between microeconomics and macroeconomics. Candidates need to be encouraged to make connections between themes.
Teaching the themes in sequence might mean covering Theme 1 up until Christmas and Theme 2 in the New Year.
Resources
The ‘Teaching Support’ section on the qualification page includes a course planner, scheme of work, mapping guide (from the 2008 specifications to the new specification) and a Getting Started Guide which can act as a course companion for you as you plan lessons through the year.
Pearson has published a textbook to cover all four themes.
Hodder has published a Year 1 textbook and will be publishing a Year 2 textbook.
There are other published resources available. For more details, please subscribe to my e-Updates.
Training
A number of half-day training events to help you prepare for Themes 3 and 4 will take place in 2016.
- 2 March in London Code: 15BAB02/01
- 3 March in Cambridge Code: 15BAB02/02
- 9 March in Birmingham Code: 15BAB02/03
- 18 March in Leeds Code: 15BAB02/04
- 26 April in Oxford Code: 15BAB02/05
Networking
If you want to find other teachers in your area who are keen to join you in a local network you can place a notice in my monthly e-Updates. Please e-mail me with the details you want me to include.
I do hope that the start of term goes well and that you enjoy teaching the new GCE Economics A course. To keep in touch with the latest news please sign up to my e-Updates.
