Today for the latest in our series on the “new” A level subjects that your child might choose, we are speaking to John about Politics.
John is one of the top Clarendon tutors for Politics, having taught at Ibstock Place School in London. John is also a published author, broadcaster and archaeologist.
We asked John a few questions about the Politics A level.
What can students expect to learn with Politics a level?
Perhaps contrary to common assumptions, A Level Politics is not about debating political issues of the day. Although there can be an element of this, the core of the A Level is really about giving students a solid grounding in how politics and government function in the UK—the nature of our constitution, how branches of government operate, how decisions are made and elections are run, the histories and differences of the political parties, how the various regions of the UK relate to each other and to the EU, and the role of other political forces such as pressure groups and think-tanks.
Beyond this, students learn about core political ideas such as Conservatism, Liberalism and Socialism, along with one additional political idea chosen by their school (Feminism and Nationalism are popular options). Finally, students will learn about either US government and politics or global politics, giving them a broad understanding of how political systems work (and sometimes fail to work!) on an international level.
What type of students will thrive with this subject?
Much like History and English, Politics is an essay-based subject, so students who enjoy extended writing are likely to thrive. It also helps to have an interest in current affairs, and a desire to make sense of the headlines we see every day in the UK and beyond. An ambition to study Politics at university or even enter into the field as a career is by no means necessary. Politics A Level gives young people an excellent basis for understanding the world around them, helping them develop critical thinking skills and the ability to navigate the modern political landscape with nuance and empathy.
How are students examined?
There are three two-hour papers that between them cover UK Government, UK Politics, US or Global Politics, and Political Ideas. There is no coursework component.
Which exam boards do you like tutoring?
I am most familiar with the Edexcel specification, which is by far the most commonly taught in schools. The other option is AQA. However, the two boards follow much the same content, structure and forms of assessment.
What contents of the course do you think are particularly engaging?
In my experience, students vary widely in which components of the course they most enjoy. Some love the more abstract Political Ideas, others love UK Politics, while many find US Politics particularly enticing. The most engaging aspect of the course for me is that the content never gets old, since it is continually refreshed by the turbulent political world all around us. As a tutor, I never know exactly what new developments I will be able to draw into my lessons a month, week or even a day from now. This keeps things fresh and exciting!