Politics

Qualification aims and objectives

The aims and objectives of this qualification are to enable students to:

Develop knowledge and an informed understanding of contemporary political structures and issues in their historical context, both within the United Kingdom (UK) and globally
Develop a critical awareness of the changing nature of politics and the relationships between political ideas, institutions and processes
Develop knowledge and an informed understanding of the influences and interests which have an impact on decisions in government and politics
Develop knowledge and an informed understanding of the rights and responsibilities of individuals and groups
Develop the ability to critically analyse, interpret and evaluate political information to form arguments and make judgements
Develop an interest in, and engagement with, contemporary politics

The Edexcel A-level in Politics consists of three externally-examined papers.

Political Participation, students will study:
- Democracy and participation, political parties, electoral systems, voting behaviour and the media
Core Political Ideas, students will study:
- Conservatism, liberalism, socialism

UK Government, students will study:
- The constitution, parliament, Prime Minister and executive, relationships between the branches
Non-core political ideas, students will study:
- One idea from the following: anarchism, ecologism, feminism, multiculturalism, nationalism

For USA (3A), students will study:
The US Constitution and federalism, US Congress, US presidency, US Supreme Court and civil rights, democracy and participation, comparative theories

Sovereignty and globalisation, global governance: political and economic, global governance: human rights and environmental, power and developments, regionalism and the European Union, comparative theories.

Currently the decision has been made to study option 3A.

Grade 6 in History or Grade 5 in English Language if new to the subject.