Politics

AQA A Level Politics.

Units Taught
1. Government and politics of the UK
2. Government and politics of the USA and comparative politics
3. Political ideas

Main Skills Developed
We build on the background knowledge and skills taught at KS3 and KS4. The focus of the papers are essay skills. You sit three papers and each paper is 2 hours. The skills are:
• to comprehend and interpret political information; to critically analyse and evaluate the areas of politics studied
• to construct arguments and explanations leading to reasoned conclusions; to identify parallels, connections, similarities and differences between aspects of the areas of politics studied
• to construct and communicate arguments and explanations with relevance, clarity and coherence and to use appropriate political vocabulary
• to make connections between the different areas of politics studied and to make comparisons across two political systems.

How can parents help to support learning?
• Encourage students to keep up to date with current affairs by watching and reading the news and also viewing documentaries which will support students in expanding their knowledge. Engage them in political discussions.
• Encourage completion of homework tasks; reading and research on additional political and historic events; use of revision guides provided in preparation for their examinations.

Useful Websites
https://www.tutor2u.net/politics/collections/uk-politics-study-notes-for-a-level-politics
https://senecalearning.com/en-GB/blog/a-level-political-studies-revision/
https://revisionworld.com/a2-level-level-revision/government-politics-level-revision
http://www.gojimo.com/a-level-politics-revision/
Regularly check all of the major news websites in the UK and USA.

Extra-Curricular opportunities
We will invite guest speakers into school, run online seminars and also run extra-curricular trips. Students are also asked to organise political events within the school such as mock elections.
SMSC & British Values
• The development of political beliefs and the impact these have on society.
• How effective is the government? What limitations does government face?
• How representative are the governments of the UK and USA?