Government and Politics (AS and A2 Level)

Advanced Level students progress onto a number of careers, such as Teaching, Television and Radio, the Civil Service, Law, Business, Journalism, Academia and Politics.

AS (8GP01)

Unit 1: People and Politics (25%)

This unit introduces students to the key channels of communication between government and people. It encourages them to evaluate the adequacy of existing arrangements for ensuring representative democracy and participation. This unit is assessed with a 1 hour 20 minute external written examination.

Unit 2: Governing the UK (25%)

This unit introduces students to the major governmental processes within the United Kingdom. It encourages students to develop a critical understanding of the role and effectiveness of key institutions, and of the relationship amongst them in the context of multi-level governance. This unit is assessed with a 1 hour 20 minute external written examination.
A2 (9GP01)

Unit 3: Key Themes in Political Analysis (25%)

For this unit, students are introduced to key themes in political analysis. Students will achieve this by studying one of the following topics:

• UK Political Issues
• Political Ideologies
• Representative Processes in the USA
• Structures of Global Politics        

This unit is assessed with a 1 hour 30 minute external written examination.

Unit 4: Extended Themes in Political Analysis (25%)

For the final unit in the GCE Government and Politics, students will broaden their understanding of the key themes in political analysis. Students will study one of the following topics:

• EU Political Issues  
• Other Ideological Traditions
• Governing the USA                    
• Global Political Issues       

This unit is assessed with a 1 hour 30 minute external written examination.

Entry requirements 5 GCSE grades at A*-C, including GCSE English. A love of reading, enthusiasm for enquiry and the ability to discuss and debate key topical issues, together with evidence of academic achievement, is required. Students should have an interest in and enthusiasm for the study of Government and Politics and an insight into political beliefs central to an understanding of the modern world.