Government and Politics A Level

Entry Requirement: 5 5 in English Language/Literature

Course Overview:

This course will examine British Politics, American Politics, and Political thought in Year 13.

The kind of questions we will be looking at will be:

• How democratic are the systems of the two countries?
• How do Socialism and Conservatism differ in their beliefs around organising a country’s political system?
• How successful are the governments of the two countries at helping their people?
• Why don’t enough people vote?
• What does Trump say about outsiders in American Politics?
• Who makes the major decisions on war, education, and healthcare?
• What does the Grenfell Tower tell us about inequality?
• Did anyone really expect Brexit to happen and should referendums be used at all?

Subject Combinations:

We want you to have confidence in your own opinions, and yet be willing to learn that there are complex political ideas behind any opinion and you may change your mind as the course progresses. This course will be best suited to those looking to combine it with other subjects such as History, English, Geography, Philosophy or Psychology. Ideally you will need a grade 6 in a Humanities subject, and a grade 5 in English language to be successful in this subject.

Career Pathways and Higher Education:

This course will open many doors. It is well respected at all Universities and could ultimately lead to a career in law, journalism, social work, teaching, academic research, or local government. The skills in analysis and evaluation that you will gain will give you the edge in Higher Education.