Government & Politics A2

Government and Politics AS/A Level
Humanities
Board and Syllabus details
Board: EDEXCEL- Syllabus: AS Level (8GP01), A Level (9GP01)

About the subject

Are Gordon Brown's New Labour party able to follow Tony Blair's success in dominating British politics or can David Cameron lead the Conservatives back to power?
Can the Liberal Democrats make an impact? Why is it that some argue that the Prime Minister seems to be able to do more or less whatever he likes, whilst Euro-sceptics point out that European laws designed in Brussels can override those passed by our Parliament at Westminster? Does the rise of the BNP worry you or do you think they are just a fringe party that will never affect anything? Will the situation in Iraq ever settle down? How important is ecology in Politics now? These and many other questions are important, both for your own intellectual development and for understanding the way our country and others are run. These and many other issues are debated in lively discussions in Collyer's Politics classes.
The first year of the course focuses on the British system of government - how democracy works in our country - and then we move on to look in the second year at political ideologies from conservatism to communism and feminism to nationalism. After taking politics at Collyer's you'll know how politics really works, what the political parties are really about, and the reality behind the headlines. You'll have explored the activities of charismatic individuals such as Tony Blair, Margaret Thatcher, George Bush, Germaine Greer, Ian Paisley, Joseph Stalin and even Scar out of The Lion King. As well as the main ideologies of conservatism, liberalism and socialism you'll understand why Marxism dominated half the world in the twentieth century, but seems to have few believers in the twenty-first.

Learning Styles

The course is assessed by examination throughout - there is no coursework. You will be reading articles, using the web and reading the newspapers to create and maintain your own political diaries. We use videos, discussions, research, presentations and various other learning styles. Politics lessons always involve lively debates that help keep you well informed. You'll even have a chance to take part in parliamentary style debates (sometimes actually in the House of Commons). We have a large range of activities outside the classroom on visits.

Subject combinations and progression

Politics can be studied in conjunction with more or less any subject, though obviously there are considerable overlaps with History and Law. Previous Collyer's Politics students can be found working around the globe, particularly in business, law, the media (where knowledge of this area is now vital) and, of course, in politics.

Subject modules and assessment

AS Level Politics:
Module 1: People & Politics (democracy, elections, political parties & pressure groups)
Written exam. (Assessment: 50% AS. 25% A2 )
Module 2 Governing the UK (the constitution, parliament, government & legal system )
Written exam. (Assessment: 50% AS. 25% A2)
A2 Level Politics:
Module 3 Political Ideologies (conservatism, liberalism, socialism & anarchism)
Written exam. (Assessment 25% A2)
Module 4 Other Ideologies (feminism, nationalism, multi-culturalism & ecologism)
Written exam. (Assessment 25% A2)

Entry Requirements
No Specific Requirements