Subject Leader (Politics) - Mr R Greenaway

Qualification aims and objectives

The aims and objectives of this qualification are to enable students to:

• Develop knowledge and an informed understanding of contemporary political structures and issues in their historical context, both within the United Kingdom (UK) and globally
• Develop a critical awareness of the changing nature of politics and the relationships between political ideas, institutions and processes
• Develop knowledge and an informed understanding of the influences and interests which have an impact on decisions in government and politics
• Develop knowledge and an informed understanding of the rights and responsibilities of individuals and groups
• Develop the ability to critically analyse, interpret and evaluate political information to form arguments and make judgements
• Develop an interest in, and engagement with, contemporary politics

The Edexcel A-level in Politics consists of three externally-examined papers.

Component 1: UK Politics

• Written examination: 2 hours
• 33⅓% of the qualification
• 84 marks

Content overview

1. Political Participation, students will study:

   • Democracy and participation, political parties, electoral systems, voting behaviour and the media

2. Core Political Ideas, students will study:

   • Conservatism, liberalism, socialism

Component 2: UK Government

• Written examination: 2 hours
• 33⅓% of the qualification
• 84 marks

Content overview

1. UK Government, students will study:

   • The constitution, parliament, Prime Minister and executive, relationships between the branches

2. Non-core political ideas, students will study:

   • One idea from the following: anarchism, ecologism, feminism, multiculturalism, nationalism

Component 3: Comparative Politics

• Written examination: 2 hours
• 33⅓% of the qualification
• 84 marks
• Students study either USA (9PL0/3A) or Global (9PL0/3B)

Content overview

For USA (3A), students will study:

• The US Constitution and federalism, US Congress, US presidency, US Supreme Court and civil rights, democracy and participation, comparative theories

OR

For Global (3B) students will study:

• Sovereignty and globalisation, global governance: political and economic, global governance: human rights and environmental, power and developments, regionalism and the European Union, comparative theories.

Currently the decision has been made to study option 3A.

Entry Requirements

Grade 6 in History or Grade 5 in English Language if new to the subject.