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Government and Politics has proved to be a popular option in recent years, and more girls are taking the subject at AS in 2009 than at any time in the past.
The department prepares students for papers on the AQA course, and at AS level this involves a study of two modules. The first of these is People, Politics and Participation, which includes issues such as voting behaviour, electoral systems, pressure groups and political parties in the UK. The second module, Governing Modern Britain, sees students undertake a comprehensive study of UK political institutions, which encompasses the Constitution, Parliament, the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Europe and Devolution.
At A2 students study a further two modules. Firstly, Political Ideologies, which entails an investigation of liberalism, socialism, conservatism and fascism. The second module is designed to complement the first at A2; described as Ideologies in Action, it sees us study the structure and values of British education; ethnicity, gender and feminism; environmentalism; and economic theory applied to UK circumstances.
One of the most exciting features of studying this subject is the way in which changes and developments on the contemporary political scene can be viewed and understood in a more rigorous academic light, whilst at the same time enhancing understanding and providing up-to-date evidence and examples which may be used in essays and answers.
Students are encouraged to read newspapers, and political weeklies, and take a close interest in political programmes on radio and television. This is a subject founded upon informed discussion in class and students are given every encouragement to become positively engaged in the political process. |
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The department is also keen that the subject is taken out of the classroom, and to this end a programme of conferences, outside speakers and theatre visits has been developed. To complement this, trips to Westminster will be offered on a regular basis, as well as the opportunity to get involved in the Model United Nations Society, a student simulation of the real United Nations, held at schools across the UK throughout the academic year. We also offer a trip to the MUN conference at UNESCO headquarters in Paris towards the end of the winter term, with participating schools and delegations from across the globe. Government and Politics is a very vibrant subject, which fuses academic rigour with the opportunity to enhance our understanding of the political institutions and processes which shape our lives.
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