Politics

Politics is an exciting subject. It is a subject that has significance for all our lives. Each morning its complex canvas unfolds with daily papers and broadcast news; by evening new details have been painted in and the scene is subtly, sometimes dramatically changed. Politics is unpredictable, dynamic, it affects us, it is about us. In one sense the canvas is us; a projection of ourselves and our aspirations, a measure of our ability to live together. Politics is arguably the most important focus of study on the human condition. It is from this context that the subject is taught at Advanced GCE here at Loughborough; providing its students with a stimulating and academically challenging course of study that will equip them for both their examinations, and a deeper insight into how, why, where and when we are governed the way we are in this country and how these processes are carried out in the USA.

Politics students range in ability from those who have gone on to read related subjects at top universities to those who began their studies after obtaining the minimum grades at GCSE. We recommend that students should be intellectually curious, committed to rigorous work, interested in current affairs and have a good grounding in humanities subjects at GCSE as a prelude to taking on this complex but addictive Advanced GCE.

What you study when you opt for politics

You will study two units at AS and two units at A2, comprising:

Unit 1 People and Politics examines the key channels of communication between government and the governed (we, the people).

Unit 2 Governing the UK analyses the workings and structure of our government.

Unit 3 Representation in the USA explores the depth and range of American democracy.

Unit 4 Governing the USA examines the role and relationship between the President, Congress and Judiciary.

For More detail see the Edexcel website.

Each unit has one examination. Unit 1 is taught ready for a January sitting of the exam. The unit 2 exam is held at the end of the year. Exams for units 3 and 4 are held in the summer of year 13.

Finally, what does this subject do to enhance your learning?

Politics also has an active programme of enrichment activities to support your learning: Including an alternating biannual trip to Parliament and the USA. The upper VIth will participate in Congress to Campus 2011 and the lower VIth are scheduled to attend their own national conference in Westminster in spring. Regular visitors (MPs/academics etc.) are also invited in to address us en masse as a feature of this course, in addition to which the popular Politics Society meets fortnightly in school and is also responsible for organising cinema trips when subject related films are running.

Like the subject itself, there is much to occupy and stimulate you as a student of politics.