Government and Politics

Course summary

is distributed and exercised in society. It is also concerned with people: how they interact, make decisions, and settle disputes. The study of Politics at the A level provides a well-developed understanding of the British and American political environment, as well as the big political ideas which have shaped the Western system of government and society. Politics lessons are marked by discussion and debate, focusing on some of the most pressing issues facing today’s world. We follow the 2017 Pearson Edexcel specification. There are three components, each assessed by a separate examination lasting two hours. As well as writing essays, pupils will also engage with source material and write shorter answers comparing UK and US systems. Component 1: UK Politics Syllabus content includes: Political Participation • Democracy and participation • Political parties • Voting behaviour • The media Core Political Ideas • Conservatism • Liberalism • Socialism Component 2: UK Government Syllabus content includes: UK Government • The constitution • Parliament • Prime Minister and executive • Relationships between the branches Non-core political ideas • Feminism Component 3: Comparative Politics (USA option) Syllabus content includes: • The US Constitution and federalism • US Congress, US presidency • US Supreme Court and civil rights • Democracy and participation • Comparative theories To succeed in Politics, you need to enjoy reading the news and staying abreast of the fast-changing political scene. You also need to be willing to engage with both sides of an argument before coming down on one side. Complemented by a diverse supra-curricular programme – which includes weekly Politics Society meetings with high-profile visiting speakers, and trips to Westminster, Washington DC, and Model United Nation events – the subject provides an excellent grounding for degree courses such as PPE, HSPS, International Relations and Sociology. More widely, its rigorous emphasis on debate, analysis and evaluation will help pupils in any degree or career involving persuasive writing and speaking.