On Tuesday 18 November, our Year 12 economics pupils visited the BMW MINI car plant in Oxford. The trip was sure to be of great use to them as the cohort spent the day learning more about the ins and outs of one of the world's most recognisable car brands.
In an insightful tour that connected real-world production processes to what they have been learning in class, their tour began in the Body in White building, where they saw 15,000 robots working tirelessly to weld strips of metal into car bodies. This sparked their curiosity and highlighted key economic concepts such as producer objectives (profit maximization) and the adoption of technology to replace certain roles.
Next, they moved to the final assembly building, after briefly passing the paint shop. Here, the group observed how essential components like engines are installed before rigorous quality checks ensure the cars are ready to be shipped worldwide. Along the way, our pupils learned about the speed of production - a MINI is completed every 72 seconds - and what factors can cause delays. While robots dominate much of the process, the pupils also saw the important roles people still play in production.
It was an amazing experience that brought classroom theory to life. A big thank you to Mr Read, Ms Norrington, and The Rev for organizing such a fantastic trip!
