A-Level Politics

Politics is the study of power, who has it and why and how it affects us all. The Politics course will enable you to study contemporary British and American politics and develop a strong understanding of the factors shaping the British and American political systems. You will develop the ability to interpret political information and hone your analytical skills by evaluating political knowledge.

If you want to focus on political events in the UK and the USA and the ideologies that underpin them, this is the course for you. No prior detailed knowledge is required, just a keen interest in politics.

The department organises a trip to Houses of Parliament and host visits from national political figures.

Politics students will also be offered a place on the History department’s USA trip to Washington, Philadelphia and New York.

There are three, 2-hour exams which assess the following:

Component 1: UK Politics and Core Political Ideas

In this unit you will study the nature of politics and how people engage in the political process in the UK. You will explore the emergence and development of the UK’s democratic system, looking at the role and scope of political parties. You will also look at the role the media plays in contemporary politics.

Component 2: UK Politics and Core Political Ideas

This unit is fundamental to understanding the nature of UK government as you will learn where, how and by whom political decision are made. You will study the major branches of government: legislative, executive and judiciary. This unit also allows for an in-depth study of feminism and the ideology behind it.

Component 3: Comparative Politics

In this unit you will study global politics and compare it to the UK’s systems and procedures. You will study theories of global politics and the state of globalisation, as well as political, economic and environmental global governance. Human rights, poverty, climate change, the U.N. and NATO will also form part of this unit.

Students must have achieved at least five strong passes (to at least grade 5) at GCSE level, including English Language and Maths.