A Level Politics
It's a political minefield out there. It's your job to make sense of it all - you even get to join in debates and attend our very own Question Time, how's that for a Party? A Level Politics is a two year course which will give you the opportunity to study the changeable values of British Politics. Students who enjoy and successfully complete this subject typically progress onto a range of degree courses at university including Law, PPE, and Journalism.
- Course Information
- Course Code
- LAPOL
- Exam Board
- AQA
- Attendance Pattern
- Daytime
- Course Level
- Level 3
- Study Mode
- Full Time
- Course Location
- Leyland Campus
- Age Group
- School Leavers (16-18)
- Course Duration
- 2 years
- Overview
Politics is a great choice if you enjoy current affairs, debates and discussions, and wish to study a subject that is vibrant and exciting.
We regularly host visits from MPs and councillors, and students have the opportunity to experience a field visit to Parliament. Runshaw students have taken part in Chorley Borough Question Time both as panel and audience members, asking questions of local politicians in the run up to the General Election.
Through our Politics Academy students have assisted in the running of mock elections at a local high school. They have also taken part in a residential trip to London visiting Parliament and the Supreme Court and engaging Deputy Speaker and Chorley MP, Lindsay Hoyle, in a Q&A session in the historic committee rooms.
As most students will not have studied politics previously, prior knowledge will not be an assumption and staff will encourage the acquisition of skills in the first few weeks of the course. Students will keep a political diary through their research into current affairs and developments.
The course itself particularly concentrates on the changeable values of British politics, including:
- Electoral systems and voting behaviour
- Features of a representative democracy
- Issues in British politics today
- Parties and pressure groups
- The politics of the USA
Course Highlights:
Political diary, visiting MPs and mock elections.
- Entry Requirements
For our A Level programme our entry requirements are a minimum of 5x Grade 5.
*Please note that A Level English requires a Level 6 in GCSE English
*Please note that A Level Maths requires a Level 6 in GCSE Maths
*Please note that A Level Biology requires a Level 5 in GCSE Maths and a Level 6 in GCSE Science.
*Please note that A Level Chemistry, Physics and Geology require a Level 6 in GCSE Maths and Science.
- How will I be assessed?
100% written examination.
- Progression Pathway
“What you learn is relevant to life and the world around you, as politics affects everything. It is useful, interesting and challenging.” (Year 1 Politics student)
The course is an excellent preparation for a wide variety of university courses and people-orientated careers such as law, journalism, government, human resources, teaching and politics.
- National Careers Service
For guidance about what careers subjects can lead on to please follow this link to the National Careers Service.
