Government and Politics A Level

Applications Open: 21st November 2025 (9.00am)

Applications Close: 13th February 2026 (4.00pm)

How to apply:

- All INTERNAL applicants MUST apply via Applicaa using this link (coming soon!)

- All EXTERNAL applicants MUST apply via Kent Choices using this link https://www.kentprospectus.co.uk/login

- All correspondence between learners and the school after an application is made will be via Applicaa.

- All applicants (internal and external) will be invited in for a 1-1 guidance meeting.

- Those who have a successful guidance meeting will be offered a place to study at St John's Sixth Form from September 2026.

Have you ever wondered what Brexit is all about? Why people say that the current Prime Minister’s days are numbered? Or why Americans elected someone like Donald Trump to be their President?

If so, you will undoubtedly enjoy our Government and Politics course offerings ( AS and A level ) for next year. So come along and vote with your feet!

• These new spec course offerings have been designed to reflect a truly modern and evolving political environment in the UK and around the world.
• At AS level you will be studying UK politics and government, which will give you a core knowledge and understanding of politics in the United Kingdom.
• Develop an understanding of how British democracy works and its many challenges.
• Improve your political awareness via eg. current affairs, news media and classroom debate.
• Develop your analytical and communication skills as well as critical thinking – skills that are essential for you to succeed in the workplace and in higher education.
• You will be able to build on your knowledge and understanding at A level by studying three core political ideas and another from a choice of five. You then have the choice to study either the government/politics of the USA or Global Politics.

• Component 1: UK Politics Political Participation - Democracy and participation, political parties, electoral systems, voting behaviour and the media.

Core Political Ideas: conservatism, liberalism, socialism.

• Component 2: UK Government UK Constitution, parliament, Prime Minister and executive, relationships between the branches.

Non-core political ideas: one idea from the following – anarchism, ecologism, feminism, multiculturalism, nationalism.

• Component 3: Comparative Politics

For U.S.A. you will study: US Constitution and Federalism, US Congress, US presidency, US Supreme Court and civil rights, democracy and participation, comparative theories.

For Global Politics you will study: Sovereignty and globalisation, global governance, political economy, human rights and environment, power and development, regionalism and the European Union, comparative theories.

AS level and A level Components 1, 2 and 3 are each assessed by a 2 hour written examination.

Each component equals 33⅓ % of the qualification.

The exams comprise of short and long answers, which are marked on 3 Assessment Objectives (Knowledge and Understanding; Analysis; Communication).

A minimum of 5 subjects at GCSE grade 5/BTEC Level 2 Pass or higher:

Including

• Grade 6 in GCSE English Language.

• Grade 6 in either History, Geography or RE.

Government and Politics is a good choice foryou if you who wish to study social sciences or humanities courses in higher education, as well as those who would like to go on to a career in local or national government, the civil service, law or journalism. With further training, you could go into a job in local or national government within the areas of housing, tax, education, travel and other areas of government. This would be ideal preparation for being elected to public office – perhaps even as a future prime minister!

In addition, in the process of taking this course, you will develop the analytical skills and the critical thinking so sought after by many employers today.