Democracy thrives when there is a high level of public engagement and political participation. In the Politics department, students can formulate their views of contemporary political developments and debate these views during lessons. By developing their understanding of the workings of political institutions, as well as how people take part in political processes, students will become equipped to help maintain a vigorous democracy. The study of Politics promotes the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of students, greatly strengthening their understanding of British values and good citizenship. Students study both the UK and the US political systems during the two-year course, which allows them to conclude the relative merits of each and the democratic political process as a whole. The content of the course is grounded in contemporary politics, with the best example material often being the most recent. UK topics include the extent of Prime Ministerial power, electoral systems, voting behaviour, and political ideologies, while US topics focus on the powers of the President, the US Supreme Court and the nature of US elections. This subject is a popular option in the Sixth Form, with many students opting to pursue a related degree course at university.