Why study GCSE Economics? (Year 9)

GCSE choices shouldn't be made on syllabus details alone. This lesson plan will help you to show Year 9 students whether GCSE Economics is right for them - or, where their school doesn't offer it, how to keep the door to A-Level Economics open through other subject choices.

This lesson is designed to be delivered in 30 minutes as a teacher-led classroom activity.

This activity supports the following frameworks:

  • Gatsby Benchmark 4

This activity is suitable for Year 9 and features careers linked to the following subjects:

  • Economics

This is one of three lesson plans for teachers introducing Economics to Year 9 students - whether through standalone Economics or Business lessons, enterprise activities, or careers programmes:

These lesson plans will help you show students how Economics connects to their future careers.

We recommend using this lesson plan at the beginning of the spring term, as students approach their GCSE choices. It builds on the two earlier lesson plans and draws them together to help students make an informed decision.

Not every school offers Economics at GCSE - plenty of students meet the subject for the first time at A-Level. This lesson plan works either way: where GCSE Economics is on offer, it helps students decide whether to choose it; where it isn't, it helps them see how their other GCSE choices - particularly Maths and English - keep the door to A-Level Economics open.

Learning objectives

  • Students will understand what studying Economics involves.
  • Students will recognise the transferable skills Economics builds.
  • Students will see how Economics connects to a wide range of careers.

Before the lesson

  • You will need a computer connected to the internet and a classroom screen.
  • Open the What can you do with Economics? page and have it ready on the screen.
  • Review the page in full so you know what's in each section.
  • Be ready to describe whether your school offers GCSE Economics - and if it does, the syllabus, exam board, and assessment methods. Be ready to mention that A-Level Economics doesn't require GCSE Economics as a prerequisite.

During the lesson

1. Recap: jobs and skills (5 mins)

  • Ask students to recall what they learned from the earlier lesson activities:
    • What jobs use Economics?
    • What skills does Economics build?
  • Write their answers on the board as a quick recap.

2. Walking through the page (15 mins)

  • Bring up the What can you do with Economics? page on the classroom screen.
  • Show students the table of contents so they see the shape of what's on the page.
  • Walk through the key sections together, unpacking why each one matters for their GCSE decision:
    • Economics at GCSE - What the course covers where it's offered.
    • Subjects that pair with Economics - Which other GCSE choices keep the Economics door open at A-Level.
    • Where Economics can take you next - How Economics leads into A-Level and beyond.
  • Briefly outline whether your school offers GCSE Economics - and, if it does, the syllabus, exam board, and assessment methods.

3. Is Economics right for you? (10 mins)

  • Ask students to think about whether Economics could be a good fit for them - either at GCSE if it's offered, or at A-Level later.
  • Prompt them with questions:
    • Are you curious about how prices, jobs, and the wider economy work?
    • Do the skills Economics builds interest you?
    • Do any of the jobs Economics leads to appeal to you?
    • If GCSE Economics is offered at your school, does it pair well with the other subjects you're considering?
    • Are you comfortable working with numbers, graphs, and data alongside writing?
    • Are you willing to read about real economic situations and form a view on what's going on?
  • Close by reminding students to choose subjects they enjoy. Interest and engagement are what lead to good results, and good results open doors.

After the lesson

  • Share the What can you do with Economics? page with students and their parents/carers:
    • www.coffeewith.xyz/subjects/what-can-you-do-with-economics
  • Encourage parents/carers to explore the page with their child and to discuss the contents.
  • Encourage parents/carers to also explore related videos and careers with their child.
  • Use the School Tools / Activities feature to record the lesson activity:
    • Activity name: Year 09 - Why study GCSE Economics?
    • Activity type: Linking curriculum learning to careers