Government and Politics

Assessment

Component One: UK Politics and Core Political Ideas This unit introduces boys to the key channels of communication between the government and the people (political parties, elections, pressure groups etc.). It also explores the ideological framework in which politics operates by studying the key ideas associated with socialism, conservatism and liberalism. Component Two: UK Government and Optional Political Ideas This unit covers the major governmental processes in the UK by looking at the structure and operations of Parliament, the judiciary, the prime minister and the UK’s constitutional arrangements. Moreover, boys will explore nationalism as an alternative ideological perspective to balance those studied in Component One. Component Three: Comparative Politics This unit explores global politics. Boys will gain an understanding of the relationship between the state and globalisation, global approaches to economics, the environment and human rights, as well as the interaction between local, regional and international units of power. There is no coursework in either the Lower Sixth or the Upper Sixth. Politics is particularly compatible with History or Economics and with humanities and social sciences generally, but it would also combine perfectly well with Mathematics, languages and scientific subjects. In terms of preparation for higher education, an A-level qualification in Politics would be an interesting string to the bow of any university applicant and would serve as a useful introduction to a university Politics degree, including Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE) at Oxford, or Human, Social and Political Science (HSPS) at Cambridge. It is particularly useful for boys considering careers in law, finance or politics.