The Politics Department is a small department which runs the Government and Politics ‘A’ level course in the Sixth Form. There are normally one to two sets studying politics in each year, with may students carrying on to study the subject at University. Currently the department teaches the Edexcel A level course which considers the basics of how the British political system works in Year 12 and American politics in Year 13. The department is currently based within the Economics and Business Studies department and interactive whiteboards are used extensively in our teaching.
Photo: Politics students Grace Stuart and Ed Le Gassick at the unveiling of the statue to Ronald Reagan on 4th July.
We see the study of politics as core in understanding the world around us and why services like health, education or the police are provided in the way that they are. Debate is absolutely key to learning and we expect students to disagree with each other and their teachers as they develop their own views. We see politics as an active subject and students are encouraged to get involved through either joining pressure groups, attending think tank events or becoming involved in political parties. The fact that the Head of Department has experience as a Councillor means that examples are up to date and frequently highlight what a cynical business politics is behind the scenes.
In the last year, a range of speakers have been invited to talk to students and lectures have been given by Trade Union Activist & Socialist Onay Kasab and Greater London Assembly Member Gareth Bacon (who hosted an afternoon at City Hall for Year 12 politics students). Students also took advantage of the department’s membership of the Fabian Society and the Centre for Policy Studies to attend various events including the unveiling of a statue to Ronald Reagan in Grosvenor Square on the 4th July.