Politics

EXAM SPECIFICATION: Edecxcel (9PLO) https://qualifications.pearson.com/content/dam/pdf/A%20Level/Politics/2017/Specification%20and%20sample%20assessments/A-level-Politics-Specification.pdf

You don't need to be a budding politician to study Politics at A Level, all you need is an inquiring mind, an ability to challenge your own way of thinking and a willingness to challenge the views of those who disagree with you.

Politics is a bit like Marmite - you either love it or hate it, but there is little doubt that in the current climate, there has never been a better time to study Politics. We are a living subject, constantly evolving, and what happened last week could easily have changed by the next. Currently Politics is the gift that keeps on giving, with Boris in Downing Street and Donald in the White House - there is plenty going on to keep us busy and get our teeth into, and we haven't even mentioned Brexit!

Feeling like a challenge? Come on the political roller-coaster ride with us and see where it can take you!

View the PowerPoint below to get an overview of the course.

STUDENT VIDEO: Current student, George Bedford, describes what it's like to study A Level Politics.

The Course

Year 12

Unit 1: UK Politics and Core Political Ideas

• Political participation: democracy and participation, political parties, electoral systems, voting behaviour and the media
• Core Political Ideas: conservatism, liberalism and socialism

Unit 2: UK Government and Non-core Political Ideas

• UK Government: the constitution, parliament, Prime Minister and executive, relationships between the branches
• Non-core Political Ideas: anarchism

Year 13

Unit 3: Comparative Politics - USA

• USA: US constitution and federalism, US Congress, US presidency, US Supreme Court and civil rights, democracy and participation.
• Comparative theories: rational, cultural and structural approaches to compare UK and US political systems and processes

Skills

• Essay writing
• Debating
• Source analysis
• Presentation skills
• Research and independent learning
• Forming judgements based on evidence
• Critical and reflective thinking
• Appreciation of political, social, economic, cultural, religious and ethnic diversity over time

Examinations

All A-level exams are at the end of Year 13:

• 1x 2 hour exam (UK Politics)
• 1x 2 hour exam (UK Government)
• 1x 2 hour exam (Comparative Politics)

Enrichment

• Houses of Parliament day trip
• Congress on Campus - US politics conference at De Montfort University, Leicester
• New York and Washington Politics and History trip (1 week)
• Student-led Debating and Pol-Econ Society

For further details, please contact Mrs Wilson, Head of Politics pwilson@bishopstopford.com