Nuffield GCSE Business & Economics: ethos

The thinking behind the course

Prawn fishermen on home-made raft photo by Nancy Wall Nuffield Economics & Business courses seek to introduce both subjects by examining familiar situations, allowing students to develop an understanding of the ideas that can be used to make sense of what is happening around them. Concepts are always introduced in context.

Students explore aspects of the real world by observing for themselves and using case study material. Once students have learnt how relevant theory can be applied in one specific context, they go on to learn how the same theory might be applied in a range of different contexts.

In these courses, Business and Economics are fully integrated so that the insights of both subjects are equally accessible to students. Both can be brought to bear on the issues that students are investigating. The arguments that students construct in their problem-solving activities can draw on concepts from both subject areas.

The investigative character of the courses requires students to explore and analyse data from many different sources. Using a range of case studies and activities, students learn to identify many differing perspectives.

The learning experience must therefore be an active one. Activities are vitally important in placing students in situations where they must work out and justify a suitable course of action. There is considerable emphasis on the development of independent thinking skills. This involves understanding of the conceptual toolkit embodied in the courses and selecting the ideas that are relevant to the questions and issues in hand.