The Politics Department
Our Vision
Our department strongly believes in the value of political literacy for all students. We aim to inspire in Sixth Form students a curiosity and fascination for the real world of power, principles and policy; to understand how power is used, abused, amassed and distributed and how decisions by those in power affect our lives. Lower down the school we strive to involve all students through SMSC, PSHE and extra-curricular activities in considering political concepts such as ‘democracy’, ‘human rights’ and ‘the rule of law’ & in understanding the importance of what is potentially the most dynamic subject in the curriculum to their every day existence. We develop students’ communication skills and we nurture students to become well rounded, inquisitive and critical individuals.
Our Aim
The Politics Department specifically aims to:
● Develop in students a sophisticated and critical understanding of political systems whether that, for example, refers to the US and British constitutions, or elections, or the comparative powers of the American president and the British PM.
● Encourage students to use political terminology and political explanations to make sense of the world around them
● Encourage students to become independent learners and use the mass media to acquire knowledge of current affairs for themselves
● Extend the study of Politics beyond the classroom by offering biennial trips to Washington, annual trips to Westminster and regular opportunities to debate, such as Model United Nations and Bar Mock Trial, and, when appropriate, to run mock elections and referendums.
● Ensure that we maintain high levels of achievement for all.
● Prepare students:
– to succeed in examinations and further study
– to pursue different career paths
– for life as informed and active citizens.
Politics
Entry requirements: GCSE grade 5 in English Language and English Literature
Content
You will study how politics works and how to analyse and understand the news. Over the two years, you will study how the main political institutions and processes work in Britain and the USA. In addition, you will also study key political ideas and thinkers of the ideas of Conservatism, Liberalism and Socialism and an optional extra such as Nationalism.
• Component 1 – UK Politics
We ask the questions: what is politics and why is it important? We investigate how elections work and why people vote the way they do. You examine how ordinary people participate in politics and ask just how democratic is the UK? We also examine the role of political parties and the core political ideas that they represent – conservatism, socialism and liberalism.
• Component 2 – UK Government
You learn about the British constitution and how it has changed. We examine the importance of Parliament, the Prime Minister and examine how well our system of government works. We also consider political ideologies such as nationalism and see how they influence the political debate and work of government via pressure groups.
• Component 3 – Comparative Politics
In this component we examine the roles of US Congress, the Supreme Court and the President in making democracy work in the USA. We also look at how the constitution shapes society, political practice and debate. We investigate how strong US democracy is and how people participate via elections, political parties & pressure groups and you also learn about the civil rights movement in the USA and the issue of race today. Throughout this component, there is a focus on comparison between the USA and the UK.
Year 12 visit the Houses of Parliament. A biennial trip to the USA gives students the opportunity to visit Washington DC. 2023-2024 was also enlivened by virtual speakers such as Julie Merson MP and Jonathan Friedland. 2016 saw a mock referendum on the EU and 2019 and 2024 saw mock general elections.
Assessment
You will be examined at the end of two years, in June of Year 13, in all 3 components. There is no coursework.
Career Opportunities
Politics enhances those skills which are appropriate for careers involving writing, arguing, persuading and debating such as journalism, management, the Civil Service and the law. A range of skills involving processing and presenting information are taught.
