Politics

We aim to create the very best thinkers, analysts and communicators. The aim of the Politics curriculum is to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to be able to understand the ever changing world around them and to be able to communicate their analysis of current events. We want students to have a thorough understanding of power and influence in the 21st century and to appreciate how decisions are made that affect their lives.

Our curriculum goes far beyond what is taught in lessons, for whilst we want students to achieve the very best examination results possible, we believe our curriculum goes beyond what is examinable. Cultural capital is developed in the Politics department by students engaging with the news and regularly having to report back to the rest of the class to share their learning. All politics students also have an opportunity to take part in a Q&A session with either their local MP or a member of the House of Lords. Students are instructed to consume high quality information by taking part in a range of activities such as listening to podcasts and reading articles from leading political commentators. Our curriculum in Politics constantly challenges students to think independently when engaging in debates in class. Manners, respect and tolerance are always exhibited in Politics lessons, which allows students to express themselves in a confident manner.

As a knowledge-engaged curriculum we believe that knowledge underpins and enables the application of skills; both are entwined. Knowledge is delivered to students and then built upon through the practice of essays, with regular quality feedback being given to support student progress. The knowledge acquired then allows students to develop their analytical and critical thinking skills.