|
||||||
Politics as a subject involves reading and discussing issues that revolve around how the UK government works and studying the processes of democracy that operate here at home, whilst comparing the institutions and ideas that are found in the USA too. We will also look at the ideological origins of our politics and study the ideas surrounding feminism from the suffragettes to the present day.
We will prepare you for the skills of analysis and evaluation that will equip you for the examinations and further humanities work in the future should you want to go further. Politics encourages a wide range of enrichment and individual support too. We use further extension work to suit individual needs, reading articles/ chapters and discussing them in a smaller group, discussing issues in our lively Politics Society every week. We also support Oxbridge applicants and provide extra academic/study skills to assist everyone who studies Politics A Level to ensure that they reach their full potential.
Five GCSEs at grade 4 or above including English Language and Mathematics.
Year 1
Component 1 – UK Politics (Democracy; Participation; Elections; Pressure Groups; Political Parties; 3 General Elections and their outcomes; Voter behaviour and the media in the UK) together with three Core political ideas – Liberalism, Conservatism, Socialism
Component 2 – UK Government (Parliament; the Prime minister and Cabinet; the EU; the UK Supreme Court and the Judiciary; the UK Constitution) together with a non-core idea – Feminism
Year 2 – UK Government & Politics and The Politics of the USA
Component 3 – Comparative UK/USA Politics – the Government and Politics of the USA (US Constitution and Federalism; Pressure Groups; Political Parties; Presidential and Congressional Elections; US Congress; US Presidency; US Supreme Court; Comparative theories)
The USA has been considered by some to be a ‘beacon of democracy’. As a world power, understanding the nature of US democracy, and the debates surrounding it, is crucial given the considerable impact that the USA has on UK, European and global politics.
You will explore the US Constitution and the arguments surrounding this guiding document of US democracy. In learning about the key institutions of government in the USA and analysing the way they achieve this power and exercise it over their citizens, you will judge, ultimately, whether ‘liberty and justice for all’ has been achieved in the USA.
You will be expected to highlight the debates on the nature of democracy in the USA and evaluate the extent to which it remains an issue. The impact of the US government on the world beyond its borders is increasingly a feature of international politics.
You will begin to engage with this interaction by comparing politics and institutions in the US with those in the UK. This will develop in you a wider understanding of politics as a discipline, underpinned by the theoretical concepts of comparative politics.
We enjoy teaching in a forum where you will be seated in groups of 3 or 4; this promotes confidence and encourages speaking between learners. The teacher introduces and explains the topic and individual work is completed and checked by peers and the teacher throughout the lessons. The use of technology via Google Classroom is central to lesson work and home learning tasks – the key to being an independent and organised student in this subject. All resources are accessible online therefore there is no need to purchase books unless you want to!
Assessment is by three exams at the end of the two-year course.
You can enter a wide range of future professions and careers, for example, Higher Education courses in the humanities (including Oxbridge), careers in publishing, teaching, research, political research, analytics, translation work in international politics, journalism, Higher Education teaching and many others.
We have a liaison with the University of Winchester and regularly enjoy visits from staff who talk with our students about current issues in United States politics.
