Politics
Exam Board: Edexcel

Most people have at least some vague idea about what politics is because it is in the news every day.  If you are already interested in politics you will be aware that much political coverage in the media conflicts with other coverage.  The academic study of politics enables us to understand and explain these conflicts and to evaluate rival accounts of the difference between what politicians do and what they say they do. It also helps us to sharpen our perception of the extent to which all of us, not just politicians, are involved in politics, whether we think we are or not.  A unifying theme of the course is that of the adequacy of current arrangements for the electorate to call politicians to account.

Government and Politics at Castle
We offer the Edexcel specification, studying Topic B in Units 3 and 4. This is explained below.

Unit 1: People and Politics
This unit introduces students to the key channels of communication between government and the people. It encourages them to evaluate the adequacy of existing arrangements for ensuring representative democracy and participation.
Topic areas:
Democracy and Political Participation;
Party Policies and Ideas;
Elections;
Pressure Groups

Unit 2: Governing the UK
This unit introduces students to the major governmental processes within the UK.  It encourages them 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.
Topic areas:
The Constitution;
Parliament;
The Prime Minister and Cabinet;
Judges and Civil Liberties

Unit 3, Topic B: Introducing Political Ideologies
This unit introduces students to the subject of political ideology and examines the major ideas of liberalism, conservatism, socialism and anarchism.
Topic areas:
Liberalism;
Conservatism;
Socialism;
Anarchism

Unit 4, Topic B: Other Ideological Traditions
This unit examines the ideological traditions that have developed out of, or emerged in opposition to, liberalism, conservatism and socialism.
Topic areas:
Nationalism;
Feminism;
Ecologism;
Multiculturalism

Assessment
All four units are assessed by written examination.  The papers for Units 1 and 2 each last for 1 hour 20 minutes; the papers for Units 3 and 4 each last for 1 hour 30 minutes.

Any questions?
The course teachers are
Nick Mummery: email ks.nimu@ksn.org.uk; and Martin McMahon: ks.mamc@ksn.org.uk. We look forward to hearing from you.