Politics A Level

What does the course involve?

Understanding power, people and ideas. Politics affects every aspect of our lives and is constantly changing and evolving. Studying Politics gives you the opportunity to develop knowledge and understanding of the role it plays in relation to current local, national, and global issues. In your first year you will study the UK political system, looking at who can vote, democracy and participation, elections, political parties, pressure groups, protests and media. You will also look at where the power really lies by exploring the UK constitution, Parliament, Prime Minister and cabinet, judiciary, devolution and the European Union. In your second year you will cover the US system including Congress, the President, elections and the Supreme Court, as well as key thinkers and ideologies such as Socialism, Liberalism and Conservatism. We also look at Feminism and Nationalism. There are a range of trips you can go on, including Parliament where we see the centre of our UK politics and we tour the House of Lords, and the People’s History Museum in Manchester – a museum of protest where you can take part in performance workshops about suffragettes.

Course Outline

In Politics we use a mix of traditional and more interactive teaching methods, such as class discussions, debates, presentations, independent research and investigations, use of media, group work and trips.

Component 1 – UK Politics & Core Ideologies:
First Year = UK Politics – Democracy and Participation, Elections, Political Parties, Pressure Groups, Protests and the Media.
Second Year = Core Ideologies: Socialism, Liberalism and Conservatism – Key Ideas and Beliefs, History, Case Studies and how they apply to society today

Component 2 – UK Government & Non-Core Ideology:
First Year = UK Government – The UK Constitution, Devolution, Parliament, Prime Minister and Cabinet, the Judiciary, and The European Union.
Second Year = Feminism – Key ideas and beliefs, History, Case Studies and how they apply to society today.

Component 3 – The USA (All Second Year):
The US Constitution, Congress, The Presidency & Presidential Power, Elections, Party Politics, the Supreme Court and Civil Rights

Assessment
Assessed through examination at the end of Year 2.

Examination 100%

There are three exams:
Component 1: Source and essay questions
Component 2: Source and essay questions
Component 3: Short and long essay questions

3 exams at the end of the upper sixth year.

Students will be entered into the AS exams at the end of first year, where the structure slightly differs.

Exam Board
Edexcel

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