Overview of Key Stage 5 Curriculum
The department offers the Edexcel Government and Politics A level. At AS level, students receive a thorough grounding in the basics of the British political system, from an understanding of the differing electoral systems used to the changing role of the judiciary and Britain’s relationship with Europe. The AS also introduces the different political parties and the distinct ideological traditions on which they continue to be based. At A2 level, students undertake a more in-depth study of different political ideologies, from conservatism to ecologism.
Whilst classroom activities incorporate plenty of discussion and a programme of study that systematically develops the written skills of students to the standards required by the exam, students are encouraged to use the full gamut of modern technology to access news about important developments and the rapidly changing political context.
What makes the department unique from those at other schools?
The department offers a very valuable annual trip to a Politics conference at Westminster which always attracts top speakers presenting on an aspect of British politics, and gives students an excellent insight into the machinery of government from those most intimately acquainted with it. We have also benefited from the support of our local MP Nigel Adams, whose all-access tours of Parliament have provided a unique opportunity to visit the very heart of our political system.
The department is making increasing use of blogging (http://qmsgovtandpolitics.wordpress.com/) and our own Twitter account (@QMGovtPolitics) to support students by highlighting particularly relevant news stories that give real-life context to the work that we do in lessons. In this way, teaching is committed to facilitating learning outside the classroom and simultaneously promotes a better understanding of the online tools used increasingly by professionals around the world.