Cambridge Festival of Ideas

On Thursday 31 March, Will and Ed, both Year 12s joined a number of schools in the Southwark Schools’ Learning Partnership (SSLP) in a Cambridge Economics Webinar as part of the Cambridge Festival of Ideas. The webinar was hosted by Professor of Economics Tony Cockerill who had tasked the students in advance to do research and give their opinions on complex economic problems. Some of the schools shared their responses in a short presentation and given feedback.

Alleyn’s topic was: “The Government’s ‘Levelling Up’ initiatives are intended to boost jobs, investment and economic growth in the North of England. What will be the likely effects of these measures on the economy of London and the South East”.

"Our question was focused on the effect of Northern ‘Levelling Up’ initiatives on the economy of SE England. We concluded that in the short term the taxation burden of the policy would raise the cost of living in the South, and there was a potential opportunity cost associated with the lack of funding towards the development of southern infrastructure. On the flipside however, we found that the long term effects of infrastructural expansion would grow the Northern economy, increasing its income and wealth. This would reduce structural unemployment and the tax burden on the South, while moving both the North and South to a more productively efficient point, increasing the overall welfare of the British economy", wrote Will and Ed.

The webinar was a great opportunity for our students to hone their presentation skills and to have direct feedback from a Cambridge professor, an invaluable taster of the type and level of discussions potential Oxbridge candidates can expect. Professor Cockerill complimented Will and Ed on their excellent analysis. We hope that such seminars and discussions will inspire and motivate our students.