Year 12:

In Year 12, students will start to develop their analytical mind and start to explore the world of UK politics. They will start by looking at the core themes of British democracy, this includes topics such as electoral systems, the history of the major political parties, and the concepts of democracy and different groups that have shaped this throughout history to the modern day. Students will be challenged to question their pre-conceptions and will debate key topics throughout the course. This also includes the development of essay skills that require a sharp focus on modern political knowledge alongside strong analytical and evaluative skills. Additionally, students will go on to study the key political institutions that govern us, including Parliament, the executive and the Courts. Within this, they will interrogate where power really lies in the UK and assess whether the checks and balances in place ensure a healthy and robust democracy can continue to survive in modern Britain.

Year 13:

In their final year, students will be encouraged to continue their own political exploration to ensure that they are keeping up to date with the most recent political news. Alongside this, they will explore the key political ideas that are behind all major political movements. This includes Liberalism, Socialism, Conservatism as their core ideologies, whilst looking at the non-core political ideology of Nationalism. Within this, students will grapple with the views of major political philosophers and discover the strains within the different strands of political thought and how they relate to the modern day. Their last unit on US politics, will be a chance for them to explore the core of American democracy, the Constitution and how the different branches of Government work in tandem with one another. This includes an in-depth study of Congress, the executive branch as well as the role of courts and how their judgements have major ramifications on the daily lives of those living in the USA. Within this, students will also develop their ability to consider the comparative elements of politics, with comparisons made between the UK and US political systems.