Beal High School Hosts Successful IEA Economics Conference

On Tuesday 20th May 2026, Beal High School proudly hosted the IEA Economics Conference, welcoming over 215 Year 12 students from Beal High School, Valentines High School, Seven Kings High School and Woodford County High School.

The conference provided students with an exciting opportunity to engage with real-world economic issues beyond the classroom and hear from leading speakers from the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA). The event focused on key A Level Economics topics; including UK economic growth, productivity, the UK labour market and flexible working, alongside valuable discussions about careers in Economics, Banking and Finance.

We were delighted to welcome guest speakers including:

• Milena Mazzoli, Communications and Outreach specialist at the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), who works closely with schools and young people to promote economic understanding and encourage debate on contemporary economic issues.
• Ewen Stewart, Director at the Institute of International Monetary Research at the University of Buckingham, who spoke about careers in Economics and the wide-ranging opportunities available within banking, finance, consultancy, government and public policy.
• Dr Valentin Boboc, Senior Economist at the Institute of Economic Affairs, who delivered an insightful presentation on the UK’s economic growth challenges, productivity and the importance of long-term economic development.
• Professor Len Shackleton, Editorial and Research Fellow at the Institute of Economic Affairs and Professor of Economics, who shared his expertise on the UK labour market, flexible working and the changing nature of employment in the modern economy.

Their presentations were highly engaging, thought-provoking and extremely valuable for students studying A Level Economics.

The conference gave students a valuable insight into how economic theory applies to real-life policy decisions and current issues affecting the UK economy today. Speakers also encouraged students to think critically, challenge ideas and appreciate the wide range of opportunities available through studying Economics.

Feedback from both students and visiting staff was extremely positive, with many praising the quality of the presentations, the relevance of the topics discussed and the opportunity to hear directly from professional economists and industry experts.

A huge thank you goes to our Economics team, student ambassadors and all staff who supported the smooth running of the event. We are also very grateful to the Institute of Economic Affairs and our visiting schools for helping make the conference such a successful and inspiring experience for our students.