Politics

P E Crookes, MA (Head of Department)

S Edwards, BA, M.Phil

Why Politics?

Politics is a very successful and interesting option at A level. It can lead to University admission to read for a Politics degree or as part of a combined Social Sciences degree. The intellectual training afforded by Politics at A level facilitates entry into the wide range of careers open to all graduates. It is highly regarded and even desirable as a foundation subject for many professional careers, notably Law, journalism, Management, business and administration, Banking, the Civil Service and the armed forces.

Politics at A level combines well with History, English, Modern Languages, Economics, Psychology, Geography and Mathematics. It is recognised as an excellent discipline by Universities and employers alike. The philosophy of the new A level scheme allows for a broadening of A level choices. Politics like other Arts and Social Science subjects should be considered alongside Science/Mathematics combinations to give a broader, more marketable range of A level choices, certainly in the lower sixth year and even to A2. There have been a number of  very successful Science/Mathematics students achieving high standards in and enjoying their Politics over recent years.

THE COURSE
There are two major components to the study of Politics at Yarm School in the sixth form. The first year AS level course ( now reduced to 2 rather than 3 units in the new specifications, which are worth 50 % of the total A level or which can be taken and cashed in at the end of the lower sixth as an AS level qualification only) is assessed at the standard between GCSE and Advanced level. The second year A2 level is also 2 rather than 3 units and is worth 50% of the total A level course and together the AS and A2 courses combine to make up the full A level GCE certificate. We anticipate most students of Politics in the lower sixth to carry on to A2.

AS
Unit 1: People and Politics – focuses on the mechanisms that link people to government. Its core themes are political participation, representation and democratic responsiveness and accountability. The unit contains 4 main topic areas: the first topic area considers the nature of democracy, how democracy works, and ways in which democracy in the UK could be enhanced or strengthened.

The second topic area examines the nature and role of political parties and in particular, considers the ideas or ideology, the traditions and the policies of the major UK parties.

The third topic area looks at elections, focusing on the link between elections and democracy, the workings of the electoral systems used in the UK and the adequacy of these systems in delivering representational and effective government.

The fourth and final topic area in unit 1 examines the extent to which pressure groups promote democracy, the power and influence of pressure groups and the distribution of power between and among pressure groups.

Unit 2:  Governing the UK- focuses on the main institutions of the central UK government. Its core themes are the distribution of policy – making power and the effectiveness ( or otherwise ) of the key bodies or institutions in carrying out their roles or functions. This unit is also divided into 4 main topic areas: the first topic area considers the nature of the UK constitution, its main strengths and weaknesses, and recent and proposed reforms to the constitution.

The second topic area examine the structure, composition and powers of parliament, the effectiveness and relevance of parliament, and recent and proposed parliamentary reforms.

The third topic area looks at the role of the Prime Minister and other executive institutions, notably the Cabinet, and the distribution of power within the executive or governmental branch, especially the extent of prime ministerial power.

The fourth and final topic area examines the role of the Judiciary ( i.e. the role of judges and the whole legal system ), the issues of judicial independence and neutrality, and the extent to which judges can and do uphold civil liberties ( and restrain the power of the Executive or Government ).

A strong emphasis is placed throughout the AS level course on up-to-date knowledge and understanding. Student understanding of political developments should be critical, analysing and evaluating, rather than based merely on knowledge of the system. Students should also develop their skills of argument and debate, as a result of studying this subject, and should be able to defend a particular view-point in the light of the available evidence and through an awareness of alternative view-points.

A2
Option Route B – 2 Units on the theme of Political Ideologies:

Unit 3 B aims to provide students with an introduction to the study of political ideologies and explores the following 4 main political ideologies, namely, Liberalism, Conservatism, Socialism and Anarchism.

All political ideologies have 3 basic features: they offer an account of the existing social order, usually in the form of a “world view”; they advance a model of a desired future, a vision of the “good society”; they explain how political change( if needed ) can and should be brought about. The ideologies that feature in unit 3 B all emerged out of the economic, social and political upheavals that brought the modern world into existence. They are ideologies that can be categorised on the basis of the left/right divide, reflecting differing attitudes to issues such as equality and economic organisation. 3 of these ideologies, liberalism, conservatism and socialism are core ideologies in that they have helped to shape, and have to some extent become entwined with, other ideological traditions. The course examines 4 main aspects of these ideologies: firstly, the distinctive features of each of these ideologies, their core values so to speak; secondly, the relationships between these ideologies, how far they have influenced each other; thirdly, the internal divisions or tensions within each ideology; fourthly, the changing nature of each of these ideological traditions.

Unit 4 B: Other ideological traditions, namely a look at 4 other ideologies – nationalism, feminism, ecologism and multiculturalism.

These other ideological traditions have each, in their different ways, extended ideological debate and shifted political argument in new and sometimes challenging directions. Nationalism alone has been a major political ideology since the early 19th century whilst feminism, ecologism and multiculturalism have gained growing prominence since the late 20th century, albeit sometimes drawing on many earlier ideas and theories.

Unit 4 B addresses the following main themes: firstly, the distinctive features of each ideological tradition; secondly, the relationship between the four ideologies; the internal divisions or tensions within each ideology; and fourthly, the changing nature of each ideological tradition.

Departmental Strengths:
The Politics Department and the School library are well equipped with A level text books and are increasingly relying on the internet for extra resources. The course encourages students to keep abreast with current affairs and to update their knowledge and understanding. Political conferences are organised to enable students to become a part of the mainstream of well informed young people in society. Conferences also feature prominently in History, a closely linked subject. The teaching staff Mr Edwards and Mr Crookes are very enthusiastic about the EDEXCEL politics course which has been taught for many years now in the School and this most recent set of changes to the specification does not substantially alter the overall course. The staff are well qualified and have a proven record of exam success. The pass rate is 100% in the last 14 years and the Department achieved 90.9% of passes at grade A and B in the summer of 2008, equalling the percentage of passes at A and B in 2007, which had been the department’s best ever. Every year there are Political students who pursue the subject at University, which is very encouraging for the whole Politics Department.
 

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