Politics
A challenging and rewarding course
Politics is constantly changing. It is perhaps the most ‘up-to-date’ subject, being refreshed on a daily basis with developments in the UK, Europe and America. As a result it is challenging, but rewards an interest in current affairs on a local, national and global scale.
Politics is only taught in the Sixth Form as part of the A-level course. It provides an exciting opportunity to those looking for a new challenge after their GCSEs.
Politics is a study of the political systems, behaviours and ideas in the UK, Europe and the USA. This course will help candidates develop a critical awareness of the nature of politics and the relationships between the different players.
We follow the EDEXCEL specification.
Co-curricular opportunities
The Politics Society, or PolSoc, is open to all members of the Senior School and meets weekly to discuss the latest political issues affecting us all. The US election, the EU referendum and the Syrian Civil War have all been topics of heated debate.
We have also run school-wide mock elections, including a mock referendum in 2016 which was held before the real-life referendum, to debate whether or not the UK should stay or leave EU.
The Hurst Debating Society may also be of interest to students studying Politics.
Higher Education and career opportunities
The study of politics develops a wide range of skills, from the interpretation of political information, to the ability to critically discuss political ideas. Politics is seen by universities as a rigorous academic subject, and lends itself to a variety of courses in higher education. At university, Politics can be studied on its own or as part of a joint honours degree with other subjects (for example, Politics, Philosophy and Economics).
Being a student of Politics does not mean you have to become a politician (though many have done). Examples of potential career paths include journalism, business, banking, marketing, law, and teaching.