Government and Politics

Course summary

Politics is the study of power: how power is used and abused by our leaders; how power is distributed and amassed; how decisions by those in power affect our lives. In A-level Politics, you will study the intrigue of Westminster, investigate the corruption of Washington, and develop your own ideas of how society should be run. Our aim is to cultivate an interest in the theoretical basis of the subject as well as in current political affairs. In doing so, we will prepare you for life beyond school through sharpening your ability to articulate logical arguments, both when writing and speaking. In class, we engage in lively discussion, debate and argument, with an emphasis on analysing and evaluating multiple perspectives. At Queenswood, we follow the Edexcel Politics syllabus. Throughout your time in the Sixth Form you will study the British political system, exploring contemporary issues within their historical and conceptual context. At the same time, you will learn about the American system, which is used as a comparative to the UK in order to examine how different governments operate. Lastly, Politics is not only concerned with how societies are run, but how thinkers believe they should be run: liberal, conservative, socialist and feminist ideas will be studied and critiqued. Politics A-level will not only add considerably to your knowledge of current affairs, but it will also develop your skills of analysis and evaluation, your ability to write well-structured essays, and your capacity to present your arguments in a logical and persuasive fashion. Consequently, it provides an excellent basis for the study of many subjects at university.