The aim of the department goes well beyond simply preparing students for public examinations, although that obviously constitutes the main priority.

The department aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to make informed judgments about topical issues which are fundamental to playing an active role in a democracy. Consequently, the specification addresses the role of political parties, the growth of pressure groups, the purpose of elections, how voters vote, the influence of the media, how much power the executive wields, whether the cabinet continues to perform a worthwhile role, why legislatures should be reformed and how citizens have their rights protected (and eroded). It is therefore a course for the student who has an interest in current affairs, who can engage with topical debate and, indeed, may even feel passionately about any of the above.

The course is essentially divided into two; in Year 12 (AS), the focus is on UK politics, in Year 13 (A2), it is the US. For both political systems, broadly speaking, the same topics outlined above are investigated.

The learning route map through the specification is driven by contemporary evidence being placed into context. For example, a study of prime ministerial power will focus on the premiership of David Cameron but he can only be judged in comparison to his predecessors and within the confines of what he is/isn’t allowed to do.

Similarly the Obama administration is assessed alongside that of Bush and beyond and in terms of what the US constitution allows the president to do.
The learning of politics lends itself to an interactive approach to both the material and the rest of the group. Politics encourages debate and discussion but this must be informed and knowledge based. It requires students to keep up to speed with what is happening in the world around them. A rich variety of teaching strategies are deployed to do this but much is required outside of the classroom so students are encouraged to quickly develop independent study skills which enable them to analytically process events as they unfold.