At St Edward’s, our Government & Politics course will equip you with the skills to understand both current news headlines, but also to have a greater understanding of the structures and processes of politics that shape our country, and the ideas that have shaped the political debate.

Why Study A Level Government & Politics?

In Government & Politics you will engage in both national and global Politics, as well as understand and study the structures of the Prime Minister, Parliament, the US political system, Brexit, and much more. Politics students are encouraged to engage in Politics at a deeper level, visiting Parliament to see politics in action and follow the news to ensure they are up to date with a constantly changing subject.

Government & Politics is a great choice if you are curious about the world around you, enjoy constructing exciting debates, and are willing to share your opinions. The best politics students are those who ask questions!

The course content requires you to study different points of view and use evidence to evaluate key debates. You will also learn how to read political sources, applying your knowledge to critically analyse how politics and journalism reflects current issues. These are highly transferable skills that are sought after in higher education and employment.

This course is particularly suitable if you are interested in any careers that involve using evidence and constructing debates, such as law and business. It is also beneficial in understanding conflicting points of view and communicate effectively, such as journalism, medicine, diplomacy or history.

Course Contact

Miss Jessica Elms
Government & Politics Subject Leader

Course Content

Component 1: Government and Politics of the UK (33%)

Component 2: Government and Politics of the USA, and comparative politics (33%)

Component 3: Political Ideas (33%)

Exam Board: AQA

Where can this take you?

After studying Government and Politics at St Edward’s, you could pursue careers that are directly associated with politics, such as law, journalism, the civil service, diplomacy, business or humanitarian work. However, Politics is a highly regarded A-level because of its emphasis on written skills, application of evidence, and high-level analysis and evaluation. Students will stand out when applying with a Politics A-level because they will have a developed understanding of current affairs and political debate. As politics impacts both our country and the wider world and has a variety of transferable skills, Politics students have also pursued careers in Medicine, Computer Science and Psychology.

Student Destinations

Politics is a highly regarded A-level because of its emphasis on written skills and high level analysis and evaluation. Students will stand out when applying with a Politics A-level because they will have a developed understanding of current affairs and political debate.

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Key information

Download Entry Requirements

Student Testimonials

"I found my passion in a subject I have never studied before. I enjoy getting to grips with political processes and understanding things. I love the feeling of finally understanding our political system. It has fuelled my passion; my highlight was standing in front of the dispatch box."

Lucy, KS5 Government & Politics student

"You get to learn about how the country is run; we talk through things and don’t just copy from textbooks. I enjoy arguing my view and debating with others. I love the feeling of having evidence to prove my point and persuade others."

Spencer, KS5 Government & Politics student