Politics is the study of political ideologies, political science, key political history and current affairs. The course covers both UK politics (e.g. the ideological standpoints of political parties, electoral systems, power dynamics in government and the factors that decide elections) and global politics (e.g. theories relating to co-operation vs conflict, intergovernmental organisations, moral and practical issues in international relations). Students also study key theorists and their impact on the historical development of liberalism, conservatism, socialism and feminism. Lessons are based around discussing and explaining key concepts, and students are expected to read a wide level of content independently - and keep up-to-date with current political news. The examinations are essay-based, and a large amount of teaching time is devoted to these skills.