Politics

Why study Politics?

"Politics is too important to be left to politicians" - so why not choose to study it in the Sixth Form?  

If you want to understand how politics works and where power lies, what parties stand for and how countries are governed, Politics might be for you.  It is a valuable qualification for Law, Journalism, History, International Relations and Politics and any other potential career that requires an awareness of the world, the ability to think critically and to write clearly.

Politics combines well with all other subjects, especially Arts subjects like History and Economics, but it is open to all who wish to preserve a broad balance. For those who wish to go on to university, there are many courses available; from straight Politics or International Relations to joint degrees with History, Languages, Economics or English.

Destinations for AHS students who studied this subject are on display outside the subject classrooms

AHS students can use Unifrog to explore how this subject might be used in life after A Levels

Entry Requirements

You need a grade 6 or higher in a GCSE Humanities subject.  You should enjoy reading, discussion, research and essay writing.  You will need to have an interest in reading different newspapers and following current affairs programmes on radio and television, so that the ideas and issues which you put forward are informed and up-to-date.

Special features of the course

If you're interested in the world around you, passionate about the potential for political change, this is the A Level for you.  Students are encouraged to attend lectures and conferences in London, where academics and leading political figures are the main speakers.  Students sometimes arrange to work-shadow an MP.  We try to take our Year 12 students to the Houses of Parliament and the Supreme Court every year, and try to take a Politics and History trip to Washington DC every two years (when costs and logistics allow).

How is the course organised?

Essentially there are three components to this course.  

There are 3 modules:

• Component 1: UK Politics and Core Political Ideas.  This means engaging with ideas like democracy, participation, electoral system, voting behaviour and the human side of politics.  

• Component 2: UK Government and Non-core Political Ideas.  This side of the UK course looks at the UK's political institutions - Parliament, the Prime Minister and the Cabinet, the Judiciary and the Supreme Court.

• Component 3: Comparative Politics -  This involves a study of the politics and institutions of the United States, mirroring the structure of the first two components.  Students answer exam questions about the US but also questions that compare the politics and government of the UK and the US.

• Political Ideas:  The course requires students to critically engage with political ideas and ideologies, and our students study Conservatism, Liberalism, Socialism, and Feminism. 

The course specification HERE contains detailed information about the organisation, structure and assessment of the taught content.  There is no coursework or NEA. 

Assessment

Three written papers each of 2 hours duration, taken in the summer of Year 13.