A Level | Politics

Politics at Leighton Park

Exam Board: Edexcel

Course requirements:

Level 6 or above in GCSE English along with an interest in the news, politics and current affairs.

Will the course suit me?

‘Politics is the art of the possible’.

How countries are governed, who makes the decisions and how the decisions are made have an impact on us all.  If you are the type of person who enjoys knowing what is going on, and you want to develop the ability to have a say in the running of your country, then this is a course for you. Politics is an excellent preparation for university studies in Law, Business, Economics, Journalism, and many more.

Course description:

The A Level course is designed to embed a sophisticated knowledge and understanding of Politics, combined with an awareness of current issues and a deep engagement with the changing political landscape.

The course investigates at the structures and systems of the British political system, for example analysing the effectiveness of Parliament at scrutinising government legislation or assessing the arguments around constitutional reform. You look carefully at how people engage in politics, from pressure groups to the increasingly important role the media has in influencing politics.

The course goes on to look at Global Politics, picking up on the skills and knowledge acquired in the first two units, to analyse and evaluate the way in which the global political system works making reference to the institutions of global governance such as the UN and the IMF.

Students will study: democracy and participation, political parties, electoral systems, voting behaviour and the media, the constitution, parliament, Prime Minister and executive, relationships between the branches, political ideas such as, anarchism, conservatism, socialism, liberalism, and realism.  The impact of globalisation and how well the institutions of global governance tackle issues such as poverty, terrorism, environment and conflict will also be studied.

Benefits of the course

The course develops your knowledge and understanding of British and Global Politics as well as core political ideas.  Politics enables you to question and discuss political processes and events, and to develop ideas that you will take beyond school and into adult life.   You will have a sound understanding of the complex political world in which we live on a local, regional, national, European and global level.  Politics lessons enjoy a lively, friendly discussion-led atmosphere, where all opinions are respected and engaged with.

Outside the classroom

• Trip to the UK Parliament
• Tour of the Supreme Court
• Opportunity to participate in the European Youth Parliament and Model United Nations (MUN) Conferences
• Attend the POLECON Annual Political Conference in London
• New for 2026-27 - Brussels trip to visit the European Parliament and NATO

Future opportunities

Many of our Politics students are so enthused by the course that they go on to study Politics or International Relations, or joint Politics/IR degrees.  Others combine Politics with English or History for a joint Honours degree.  Often, part f these courses include internships abroad, such as at the EU or the UN.  The ability to argue cogently and successfully, and to analyse in a rational and critical manner, prepares you well for many exciting and demanding careers, including politics, journalism, law and media - but since Politics pervades all aspects of life, anything is possible!

If you should have any queries about this course, please contact Head of Department: Richard Duckett

To apply for our Sixth Form, please see our Admissions page.