A Level
A Level
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WHAT IS POLITICS?
Past, present, future – Politics is
everywhere we look and it’s changing.
Decisions that are made in governments
and other institutions can have a huge
effect on our lives and the lives of others.
Studying Politics will give you a good
understanding of the factors that are
driving change all around us and how
to make a difference yourself.
Unless we understand how the
government works, we will never
be able to play a full and active part
in society. We will always be on the
receiving end of other people’s wisdom,
rather than being in a position to
advance our own agenda.
The study of politics takes in grand issues
of government and of justice, but also
takes you behind these formal facades
and seeks to understand the crucial
questions of where power lies and
helps you to understand ‘who gets
what, how and why’.
WHAT WILL YOU STUDY?
We will give you the opportunity to
gain a critical understanding of political
process and institutions, focusing
particularly on the government and
politics of the UK and USA, as well as
key political ideas that influence global
political movements.
We encourage you to get involved in
campus politics too, from student-led
debates to joining the Student Union.
This will all help to develop your skills
to help you build towards moving onto
university and your future career.
WHAT NEXT?
The Russell Group Universities regard
Politics A Level as one of the key
challenging subjects that allow entry
to the most prestigious courses at
undergraduate level. It is seen as a
traditional academic subject providing
evidence of a student’s ability to produce
detailed written arguments, reaching
valid judgements based on strong
analysis of supporting evidence.
As a result, it is a subject that will
help with almost all degrees and it is
considered particularly useful for any
humanities subject, Modern Foreign
Languages & Law.
WHAT OTHER SUBJECTS GO
WELL WITH THIS SUBJECT?
Economics, English Literature,
English Language, Modern Foreign
Languages, Geography, History,
Law, Philosophy, Psychology,
Religious Studies and Sociology.
History
WHAT IS HISTORY?
CAREERS
• Public affairs
• Civil service
• Political journalist
• Member of parliament
A serious study of the past is vital
in helping the 21st Century world
understand where it has come from and
how to address the problems it faces.
It not only involves the reconstruction
and interpretation of the past, but
the development of the critical skills
necessary to unlocking its secrets.
We offer A Levels in Modern World
History, Early Modern History and
Classics: Ancient History.
WHAT WILL YOU STUDY?
DID YOU KNOW?
The two red lines on the
floor of the Commons are
designed to be two sword-
lengths apart. MPs are
prohibited from crossing
the lines to prevent
physical fights.
Modern History: You will critically
evaluate 19th and 20th Century British
and World History at a time of great
expansion, development and conflict.
The external exams involve studying the
British Empire (1857-1967) and the Cold
War (1945-91). The final component of
the course allows you to develop your
investigative and research skills into the
demise of slavery in the United States
from 1776 to 1877.
Early Modern History: You will delve
into 15th and 16th Century England
and Spain at a time of great upheaval,
conflict and change. The external exams
involve a mixture of essay writing and
the evaluation of both contemporary
and secondary source material as you
study Spain in the Age of Discovery
(1469-1598) and The Wars of the Roses
(1450-1499) in England. You will develop
your investigative and research skills on
the role of religion in causing rebellions
against the Crown in Britain from
1536-1651.
Classics: Ancient History: You will
study both Greek and Roman history.
The Greek component involves focusing
on the relationship between Greek states
and non-Greek states and the outbreak
of the Great Pelopponesian War in 431
BC. The second year focuses on the
culture of Athens allowing students
to study Greek drama and analyse
Greek art and architecture. The Roman
component focuses upon the conflict
and struggles of the late Republic era,
allowing students to study individuals
such as Caesar, Cicero, Mark Antony
and Pompey Magnus.
WHAT NEXT?
Many of our History students continue
onto Higher Education to study History
or other written degree courses.
WHAT OTHER SUBJECTS GO
WELL WITH THIS SUBJECT?
Economics, English Literature, English
Language, Modern Foreign Languages,
Geography, Law, Philosophy,
Psychology, Religious Studies and
Sociology.
CAREERS
• Teaching
• Archivist
• Archaeology
• Media
• Marketing
• Business Administration
• Politics
DID YOU KNOW?
History’s shortest war
was between England
and Zanzibar. It lasted
only 38 minutes.
POLITICS
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