Government and Politics
The Robert Smyth Academy - Leicestershire
01858440770
Burnmill Road, Market Harborough, LE16 7JG
Course summary

Politics is a subject to be studied if you have an interest in politics and the way we are governed. If you want to understand how parliament and the government work, or how politicians are elected, or what agendas political parties have on some of the hot political issues of the day, then this is the subject for you. Politics has a profound influence on everyone’s life as the government and politicians decide how much tax we pay, whether certain crimes are punished, whether the laws on immigration and abortion should be reformed, or even if we should go to war with another country. Politics will deal with these current affairs and will turn you from being a passive member of society to an active political animal. Politics is the subject for you if you like debate and discussion and you want to develop your own views, rather than accept the views of others. During the two years, we will study many different topics as separate areas, but you will discover that all areas of political life are interconnected, such as: political ideologies and current political ideas; electoral systems and voting behavior; pressure groups and democracy; constitutions, citizen rights and the judges who guarantee them.

Entry requirements

In order to gain entry into Robert Smyth Academy Sixth Form you will need a minimum of 40 points, including a grade 4 in English and maths, from your best eight GCSEs. Grade 5 in GCSE English.

How you'll be assessed

Course Content and Assessment (exam only) Year 12: UK Politics/UK Government Topics studied in Year 12 comprise: • Political participation i.e. Democracy and participation, political parties, electoral systems and voting behavior, and the media • Core political ideas i.e. conservatism, liberalism, and socialism • UK government i.e. the constitution, Parliament, the Prime Minister, and executive and relationships between institutions • Non-core political ideas i.e. feminism. Year 13: Comparative Politics Topics studied in Year 13 comprise: • The US Constitution and federalism, • US Congress • The Presidency • US Supreme Court • Democracy and participation in the US • Civil rights

School Info

About Education Provider

RegionEast Midlands
Local AuthorityLeicestershire
Ofsted RatingGood
Gender TypeCo-Educational
AddressBurnmill Road, Market Harborough, LE16 7JG