Politics

Politics

Our Subject

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An introduction to Politics
A Level Politics FAQs

What does democracy really mean? How powerful are Prime Ministers? How do different Political ideas relate to today’s issues? If you enjoy debating current affairs and politics and would like to study a subject that is relevant to your everyday life, then you could be a perfect candidate for an A-level in Politics.

This course will appeal to students who:

  • Have a lively and enquiring mind.
  • Have a desire to explore new ideas.
  • Enjoy debating current affairs and politics.
  • Feel the need to take part in the decision-making process.
  • Want to affect people’s everyday lives.
  • Want an opportunity to progress to a career in politics.

To study Politics at Bilborough, you need a grade 5 in English and at least one other Grade 5 in an essay-based subject.

Our links with HE

A Level Politics combines particularly well with the A Level History, Economics, Philosophy, Sociology and Law courses. As well as giving you a solid foundation for a possible career in politics, this qualification can be a useful grounding for a wide range of careers. A high proportion of Bilborough Sixth Form College Politics students go on to related courses at degree level and, for some, this has led to great things. One former student, for example, is now a senior civil servant in the Cabinet Office.


Course Structure

You will study 3 separate units which are each assessed through exams at the end of your 2 year course of study. Each unit is worth 1/3 of your A Level.

Paper 1: UK Politics
Topics in this unit include:

  • Democracy and participation
  • Political Parties
  • Electoral Systems
  • Voting Behaviour and the Media
  • 3 Core Political Ideologies: Liberalism, Socialism and Conservativism

Paper 2: UK Government
Topics in this Unit include:

  • Nature and sources of the British Constitution
  • The structure and role of Parliament
  • Prime Minister and the Executive
  • Relationships between the branches of Government
  • 1 Non-core Ideology: Feminism

Paper 3: Comparative Politics (USA)
Topics in this unit include:

  • The US Constitution and Federalism
  • US Congress
  • US Presidency
  • US Supreme Court and Civil Rights
  • Democracy and Participation
  • Comparative Theories

Inspiration

A few years ago a student came to the induction at Bilborough Sixth Form College just to have a look, discovered it was for him and got involved in local politics. During Year 13, alongside his A-levels, he fought an election campaign and became one of the youngest district councillors in the country. TV cameras came to college to film his success story, which was shown on national TV. In 2013 he stood in the Nottinghamshire County Council elections and became the youngest ever Nottinghamshire County Councillor.







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