Government & Politics
Government and politics at Stanborough offers students the opportunity to engage with contemporary political events, decisions and personalities. Students are challenged to draw comparisons with the past and identify differences or changes in the political landscape as they occur.
The subject offers students the opportunity to develop their own political opinions and to have those opinions challenged by their classmates. Students are encouraged to explore a variety of different political perspectives and to always find a means of supporting their views with concrete examples/evidence.
What will students study?
In KS5:
In Year 12 students primarily study topics related to UK politics. Key concepts such as democracy, political participation, political parties and elections are all covered as well as key areas of political ideology; socialism, liberalism and conservatism. In Year 13 this Edexcel course expands to cover US government and politics. This include topics like the US Presidency, US Congress and US Supreme Court. These topics are examined alongside the Year 12 UK content, drawing comparisons between the two countries.
How can I support my child in this subject?
The best way to support your child is to ensure good attendance in lessons. Government and politics requires a high standard of written English. This can be improved by making sure that students have a broad vocabulary and familiarity with strong writing styles. The most effective way of doing this is to ensure that your child reads regularly. Reading can take place in many forms however exposing them to as much political material as possible will be beneficial as most political news items are relevant to the course. Students benefit greatly from watching TV shows like Question Time, The Daily Politics and the Andrew Marr show.
What equipment does my child need in this subject?
Every student needs at least one folder. However students are encouraged to have two, so as to separate the material taught by different teachers. Other equipment required are pens, lined paper, highlighters, ruler and any other suitable stationary equipment.
Celebrating successes in this subject
A large number of our students have gone on to study Politics, International Relations or Political Science at university. We celebrate students’ achievement through the end of year awards and the reward point system.
Extra-Curricular Activities and Visits
Students benefit from a number of extra-curricular activities as part of the course. There is an annual Year 12 trip to the Houses of Parliament during which students get the opportunity to get an up close look at how parliament functions and take part in workshops related to the course. Students are given the opportunity to take part in MUN (Model United Nations). Other recent trips included visits to Europe House and Kings College to examine both Turkey and Britain’s relationship with the EU.
