Government and Politics

Course summary

Why study Politics? Primarily to learn about the big ideas that have shaped the world that you live in such as liberalism, socialism, and conservatism. Politics is a subject full of debate which is always stimulating, challenging, and above all, good fun. Politics students are among the highest achieving in the college in terms of grades A*s and A’s and nearly all progress to top universities or superb higher-level apprenticeships in law and Her Majesty’s Civil Service. There are as many opportunities as students want to become involved in local politics and meet local MPs and councillors; and many students do work experience with them to enhance their own chances of entering politics in the future. There are four main areas of study: ● Political ideas: liberalism, socialism, conservatism, and anarchism ● UK politics: political parties, voting systems, democracy and voting behavior ● UK political system: Parliament, PM Cabinet, and the Supreme Court ● US politics Where could it take me? Degrees at Oxbridge and other Russell Group universities. The overwhelming majority of upper-sixth students went on to prestigious universities such as St. Andrews, Manchester, York, Queen’s, and Bath. We enjoy a special relationship with the University of Manchester: preparing students for its ‘pre-university’ course from the September of upper sixth. Several alumni have careers in law, politics, the civil service, the private sector and education.