Warwickshire case studiesWarwickshire’s Economy as a Business Classroom
Examiners reward students who apply theory to real businesses. The county has clear examples across a theatre company’s ticket prices, a 4.4% council tax rise and the county’s councils becoming two, and we use them in lessons.
Pricing & demandThe Royal Shakespeare Company’s ticket ladder
The Royal Shakespeare Company’s ticket prices page, which shows no date, says tickets start from £10 at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and £15 at the Swan Theatre, with a £3.50 booking fee from 2 March 2026, 35% of a £10 ticket by our arithmetic. Ages 14 to 25 can buy £10 tickets with free membership, up to four under-18s pay half price with each full-price adult, and state schools pay £10 a head for groups of 10 or more. The page gives no occupancy or revenue figures.
Why might a theatre sell £10 tickets to young people and add a £3.50 fee, and what would you need to know to judge whether it works? Practise this in AO2 Application.
Interpreting numbersWarwickshire’s 4.4% council tax rise
Warwickshire County Council said its full council approved its 2026/27 budget on 17 February 2026, raising council tax by 4.4%, including a 2% adult social care precept, below the 4.99% maximum. That adds £1.56 a week to a Band D bill, £81.12 a year by our arithmetic. Budget reductions are £27.6m in 2026/27, rising to £99.9m by 2031, 3.6 times as much by our arithmetic. The council also expects £3.5m of revenue savings from SEND borrowing. The release gives no total budget.
Why might a council raise tax below the maximum and still need £99.9m of reductions by 2031, and what would you want to check? Step by step in AO3 Analysis.
Strategy & stakeholdersWarwickshire’s councils become two
Dunchurch Parish Council’s news item of 29 July 2026 said the Government had confirmed a two-unitary structure for Warwickshire, replacing the county council and the district and borough councils. North Warwickshire Council would cover the North Warwickshire, Nuneaton and Bedworth, and Rugby areas, and South Warwickshire Council the Stratford-on-Avon and Warwick areas. The new councils take responsibility for services on 1 April 2028. The item gives no savings, staffing or election dates.
Should the county’s councils merge into two, and who gains or loses? A real judgement for AO4 Evaluation.
Sources: The Royal Shakespeare Company, ticket prices page (undated); Warwickshire County Council, 2026/27 budget release; Dunchurch Parish Council, 29 July 2026. The 35%, £81.12 and 3.6 times figures are our arithmetic. The ticket page gives no occupancy figures, the budget release gives no total budget, and the reorganisation item gives no savings figures or election dates.
