Politics A Level 3

Applications Open: - 8th October 2025

Applications Close:- 20th August 2026

How to Apply: - Please contact The Skinners’ School directly to apply. We do not accept applications via KentChoices

Please see here for more information about our Sixth Form and to complete an application form.

Politics is a unique and highly engaging subject that is constantly changing at a pace like no other. Students are challenged to have acute awareness of on-going national and global political developments that can be used as examples in their written work. Politics gives students an opportunity to clarify what their beliefs are, to develop an understanding of what rights they have and how their government is structured and operates. They develop analytical and practical skills, including the ability to express their own views confidently and compose well-structured and balanced arguments on paper.

Component 1: UK Politics

1. Political Participation, students will study:

• democracy and participation, political parties, electoral systems, voting behaviour and the media.

2. Core Political Ideas, students will study:

• conservatism, liberalism, socialism.

Component 2: UK Government

1. UK Government, students will study:

• the constitution, parliament, Prime Minister and executive, relationships between the branches.

2. Non-core political ideas, students will study:

• nationalism.

Component 3: Global Politics

Students will study:

1) The state and globalisation

2) Global governance: political and economic

3) Global governance: human rights and environmental

4) Power and developments

5) Regionalism and the EU

6) Comparative theories – realism vs. liberalism

Component 1: Written examination: 2 hours 33⅓% of the qualification 84 marks

• Section A: Political Participation

One 30-mark question from a choice of two (each question uses a source) – students must complete one of these. Plus one 30-mark question from a choice of two – students must complete one of these.

• Section B: Core Political Ideas

One 24-mark question from a choice of two.

Component 2: Written examination: 2 hours 33⅓% of the qualification 84 marks

Section A: UK Government

• One 30-mark question from a choice of two (each question uses a source) – students must complete one of these. Plus one 30-mark question from a choice of two – students must complete one of these.

Section B: Non-core Political Ideas

• One 24-mark question from a choice of two

Component 3: Written examination: 2 hours 33⅓% of the qualification 84 marks

Section A

• One 12-mark question from a choice of two

Section B

• One compulsory 12-mark question focused on comparative theories

Section C

• Two 30-mark questions from a choice of three

Successful students of Government and Politics are capable and persuasive on paper. Therefore, we would recommend a grade 6 or above in GCSE English Language.

Government and Politics is useful for a wide range of careers including journalism, law, media, politics, civil service, local government and business and management.