Politics
“Politics is the art of the possible.” Aristotle
This subject is offered as an AS Level through the Electives programme only and can be taken in Year 12 or Year 13.
Politics gives you the chance to engage in discussion and debate‐led lessons on current, topical political issues whilst grounding yourself in political theory. You will develop a broad knowledge and understanding of the political system in the UK.
This course requires students to take an active interest in the news and you will be expected to watch political news programmes and read a quality newspaper.
You will develop a wide range of transferable skills including the ability to: comprehend, synthesise and interpret political information; analyse and evaluate political knowledge; identify connections, similarities and differences; select relevant material and construct and communicate arguments clearly and coherently.
Ultimately, you will be able to make informed decisions (particularly when you vote) about the processes used by others to make decisions on your behalf.
This course would strengthen any UCAS application in addition to providing a good grounding for those students interested in the Law, Journalism, Media Studies and, of course, Politics.
There are two broad areas of study, assessed through a single examination.
- The Government of the UK: The nature and sources of the British Constitution; Structure and role of Parliament; the Prime Minister and Cabinet; The Judiciary; Devolution.
- The Politics of the UK: Democracy and participation; Elections and referendums; Political parties; Pressure groups; The European Union.
There is no coursework but, given the course breadth and time frames available, you must demonstrate commitment to the course through the completion of homework tasks and independent wider reading.
As you can see from the topics studied, the course is highly relevant to understanding current political events. Keep up in a fast moving world! The full specification can be found at:
Students will need at least a G5 in English GCSE and a G5 in History (if taken at GCSE).
‘Politics AS is an engaging way to connect with current affairs, as well enabling a wider array of subject choices and qualifications beyond A Level.’
Year 12 Student
An excellent starting point for developing an understanding of the course content and finding out more about the topics studied can be found at:
This should also generate interest and spark enthusiasm if you are not sure what Politics is about!
For further details please contact Andrew Nockton an@pershore.worcs.sch.uk