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Politics

Curriculum Intent

We live in an increasingly interconnected and globalised world. The study of Politics allows our students to make sense of this world and the connections therein. It also enables them to investigate different interpretations of the nature of power, development, conflict and human rights. They do this through the application of political theory and concepts to up to date case studies that reflect the ever-changing political situation from around the globe.

Politics is offered as:

  • A Level Years 12 & 13

Key Stage 5 Politics A Level

(Pearson Edexcel - A Level)

Curriculum Overview

Paper 1: UK Politics 

  • Democracy and participation- What is democracy? What types of democracy are there? What affects people’s participation in politics? 
  • Political parties- The “mainstream” UK political parties and two smaller parties- what are their main ideas? What accounts for their levels of support? 
  • Electoral systems- What different methods are there for electing representatives? How are they used in the UK? Should our election system change? 
  • Voting behaviour and the media- What affects the way people vote? How has this impacted UK general elections? 
  • Core ideologies: conservatism, socialism and liberalism. 

Paper 2: UK Government 

  • The UK Constitution- What are the component parts of the UK Constitution? What are the sources of the UK Constitution? Should it be reformed? 
  • Parliament- What are the functions of the UK Parliament? How effective is it at carrying these out? Should the House of Lords be abolished? 
  • The Prime Minister and government- What is cabinet government? How powerful is the PM? What factors affect their power? 
  • Relations between the branches of state- How do Parliament, government and the courts interact? Who has the most power? Who should have the most power? 
  • Non-core ideology: feminism 

Paper 3: Global politics and comparative politics 

  • The state and globalisation- What is a state? Are states undermined by globalisation? 
  • Global governance: political and economic- What are IGOs? How powerful is the UN? How powerful are NGOs? 
  • Global governance: human rights and environmental: What are human rights? Why are they promoted? Can the current system save the environment? 
  • Power- What types of power are there? How has the application of this changed over time? 
  • Regionalism and the EU- How powerful is the EU? What other regional organisations are there? 
  • Comparative theories of politics: What is realism? What is liberalism? What is international anarchy? How can we apply these ideas? 

 

Term 1 

Term 2 

Term 3 

Term 4 

Term 5 

Term 6 

Year 12 

Unit 1 

Democracy  

Unit 1 

Political parties 

Unit 1 

Electoral systems 

Unit 1 

Elections and voting behaviour 

Unit 1 

Socialism  

Unit 2  

Feminism  

Unit 2 

UK Constitution 

Unit 2 

UK Parliament  

Unit 2 

UK Prime Minister 

Unit 2 

Relations between branches of state

Unit 1 

Conservatism

Unit 1 

Liberalism 

Year 13 

Unit 3 

The state and globalisation 

Unit 3 

Power 

Unit 3 

Comparative theories 

Revision 

Revision 

Exams 

Unit 3 

Global governance- Political and economic

Unit 3 

Global governance- human rights and environment

Unit 3 

Regionalism 

Assessment

Examination only 

Paper 1: 2 hr written examination worth 33.33% of the A-Level 

Paper 2: 2 hr written examination worth 33.33% of the A-Level 

Paper 3: 2 hr written examination worth 33.33% of the A-Level 

Complementary Subjects

HistorySociologyGeographyEPQ

 

British Values in History and Politics

Democracy: The basis for the evolution of UK democracy is taught in KS3 with issues such as suffragettes and the extension of the franchise. Abuses of democracy are examined at GCSE and sixth form- examining single party states and their impact. Politics AL unit 1 explicitly examines the nature of democracy. The nature of democracy and liberal values is used as a perspective in Global Politics at IB.

Rule of law: The developing idea of rule of law is looked at in History through Magna Carta- both in KS3 and GCSE. International law and human rights law is explored in Global Politics. The role of the Supreme Court in the USA and UK is explored in AL Politics.

Individual Liberty: Growth of individual liberty is explored in the KS3 History curriculum- such as increasing rights for women and the ending of the slave trade. Liberty as a concept is explored in ideologies and perspectives in Politics and Global Politics. The idea of individual rights is fundamental to the study of Global Politics.

Mutual respect: Respect for other cultures is encouraged through the study of these from Y8 onwards- examining Germany, Mughal India, China, Russia and the USA amongst others. Immigration through time unit looks at the development of the UK’s diverse cultures (which links to the 5th strand too).

Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs: Different ideological perspectives are explored in Politics and Global Politics- including concepts such as relativism that explicitly deal with equality of belief systems. The catastrophic consequences of intolerance are looked at in units on genocide and Nazi Germany.