Politics A level is a demanding and exciting course that covers a wide range of theoretical and practical topics relating to the UK political system, global politics, and political theory. We reflect on and debate the issues at the heart of today’s turbulent political climate.
Politics A level students will engage with seminal works of political literature and analyse the theories and ideas that have influenced the development of our domestic and global systems. Our goal is to help students equip themselves with a skillset that enables them to shape the future.
In terms of skills examined, Politics is essay based and revolves around constructing and evaluating written arguments.
Politics is an increasingly popular A level choice at the Langton, and sits very well alongside other humanities subjects. Many students every year go on to study Politics at university in the form of International Relations, PPE, joint honours with History, or other combinations. This is also a popular course for students who are considering careers in the legal profession, as Politics A level involves exploring the workings of the UK judiciary, the legislative process and developments in international law.
Employers from a wide range of industries look to recruit people who can analyse political trends and evaluate the causes and consequences of political change. Some students of politics go on to work in central or local government; work for pressure groups or political parties; some become politicians: most current frontbench MPs studied Politics. There is a demand for those with an in-depth knowledge of politics in journalism, law, finance, comedy, diplomacy and business.
Details of the Pearson Edexcel syllabus are as follows:
UK Politics (23.5% of the A level): exploring the nature of politics and how people engage in the political process in the UK.
the emergence and development of the UK’s democratic system
the role and scope of political parties
the electoral systems that operate in the UK
why individuals and groups vote as they do
the role of the media in contemporary politics
UK Government (23.5% of the A level): exploring the nature of government in the UK – where, how, and by whom political decisions are made. Does the office of the PM hold too much power? Is Parliament really sovereign in the age of devolution? Is the suspension of the Government’s plan to process asylum claims in Rwanda an example of judicial overreach?
the set of rules governing politics in the UK (the constitution)
the powers and roles of the different branches of government
recent constitutional change and the desirability of further reform
where does sovereignty lie within the UK?
Political ideas (20% of the A level): exploring the key features of a number of core political ideologies and thinkers, including:
liberalism
socialism
conservatism
feminism
Global politics (33% of the A level): exploring a wide range of issues and challenges that shape politics on a global scale in the 21st century. This includes studying:
different theories of international relations
sovereignty and the economic, political and cultural impacts of globalisation
the history and role of key international organisations such as the UN and NATO
global economic issues, poverty, aid, and inequality
