Application Instructions
Applicants will only be considered once all the application information has been completed including predicted and/or actual grades and references.
Applicants with non-UK qualifications, for example, overseas qualifications, will be required to have the equivalence of their qualifications verified by UK ENIC (the wider European title for national recognition agencies www.enic.org.uk) who will charge the you a fee for providing this ‘Statement of Comparability’. If you are unable to gain a Statement of Comparability, we reserve the right to withdraw your application due to the lack of comparable grade evidence. We are required to ensure that students are eligible for ESFA funding, which is guaranteed if they are living with a parent who: Has British citizenship and/or; Has a right of abode/leave to enter the UK and/or; Has a relevant work permit/visa and/or; Is a foreign diplomat.
Please provide any outstanding documentary evidence in relation to the above. Applications from students who are not eligible for ESFA funding will have their application withdrawn by the school. The school does not hold a licence to support applicants with Home Office Tier 4 Student Visa status.
Course Summary
Why Study Politics?
This course will give you valuable insights into the world of political ideas, processes and key institutions. There can be no better time to study Politics due to the rapidity of change in the world. The loss of confidence in governments in the West and the rise of populist political movements, the breakdown of governments in the Middle East, and Brexit, are all events which point to a crisis in domestic and international politics, and have and will continue to touch our lives. A successful student of Politics will leave the course with a developing knowledge of both domestic and international Issues, and will have the skills necessary to make effective contributions to future political debates.
Course Details
What Does The Course Involve?
There are three broad areas of study:
•The government and politics of the UK
•The government and politics of the USA
•Political ideas
The course asks you to identify parallels, connections, similarities and differences between aspects of politics. This will ensure that you develop a critical awareness of the changing nature of politics and the relationships between political ideas, political institutions and political processes.
The political ideas to be studied have relevance to both of the systems of government and politics in both the UK and the USA.
There are set authors whose texts will provide a variety of theoretical perspectives which will further enhance your knowledge and understanding of politics as a whole. The study of political ideas is an integral part of the course, teaching you to analyse, interpret and evaluate political information to form rounded arguments and make mature judgements about all aspects of political life.
You will be expected to keep up to date by watching current events on TV and reading quality newspapers. You are encouraged to incorporate internet research into working habits. Course content is delivered via a range of teaching and learning activities which include, lectures, small group presentations, discussions and debates. Past questions are set for homework every two to three weeks for each teacher.
How will it be delivered and assessed?
How Will I Be Assessed?
Exam Board AQA. There are three exams at the end of two years. 100% examination.
Entry requirements
What Are The Entry Requirements?
To qualify for a place in Sixth Form, you must achieve five GCSEs at grade 5 or above, including Maths and either English Language or Literature or five GCSEs at grade 5 or above, plus at least a grade 4 in Maths and English Language or Literature.
For this course: GCSE grade 5 in English Language/English Literature/any Humanities subject*
* ‘Humanities subjects’ are History, Geography and RPE
Your next steps...
Leading To A Career In?
This is an excellent ‘A’ Level for many career pathways and university degrees, in fields such as politics, international relations, law, history, sociology, economics, business…all these will benefit from this course.
For more courses like this, check our courses page.