Government and Politics
Government and Politics is a dynamic subject that tends to appeal to students with inquiring, critical minds, seeking to study a new and challenging subject in the Sixth Form.
At Kimbolton our emphasis is on developing the critical and analytical skills of students, encouraging lively class discussion as well as focusing on the core demands of reading, researching and writing answers to essay questions. We are committed to making the study of politics an enjoyable, rewarding and successful experience.
Departmental Staff
Curriculum
Lower and Upper Sixth Form – A Level optional subject
Pearson Edexcel Politics (2017)
Politics is about power, influence and how groups of people order their priorities and make decisions. It is a dynamic, exciting and highly relevant subject with content that can, quite literally, change with the news of the day.
We’ll help you develop a critical awareness of the nature of government and politics and to gain a sense of the rights and responsibilities of the individual within society. You’ll quickly develop a hunger and political awareness which will take you to the context behind political decisions and challenges, and an ability to weigh up competing national and international interests and different political systems. You’ll gain skills in analysis and problem-solving, critical thinking, presentational skills and group-working.
The course covers the political systems of the United Kingdom and United States of America plus political ideas and the differing politics within countries. Our annual study trip to Parliament allows you to explore and understand the components of the British political system.
Beyond the classroom: As a member of our Politics Society, you’ll bring the theory to life by setting up activities that are open to the wider school. Recently, we’ve held mock general elections and an EU referendum and hosted lectures and dinners with significant political figures and commentators including the former Prime Minister, Sir John Major, former Lord Chancellor Charlie Falconer, broadcaster Jeremy Paxman, political journalist and former MP, Matthew Parris, former MP and lawyer Anna Soubry and Mary Coughlan (former Deputy Premier of ROI).
If you’d like to gain a deeper understanding of Law, sign up for our Mock Law cases in which you’ll play roles within a courtroom, overseen by a real judge.
- View our Sixth Form Prospectus
Extra-Curricular Activities and Enrichment
- Our active Politics Society (see programme below) is open to all year groups. Each term there is a programme of meetings, many student-led. Recent topics for discussion have included the works of Nietzsche and Plato, the ethics of war and the death penalty, while visiting speakers have included Sir John Major KG CH, former Lord Chancellor Charlie Falconer, broadcaster and journalist Mr Jeremy Paxman, Lord Butler of Brockwell (the former Cabinet Secretary to Thatcher, Major and Blair), from political news Matthew Parris, Michael Crick, Michael Cockerell and Sally Lockwood, as well as Mary Coughlan (former Deputy Premier of ROI) and Anna Soubry, until recently MP, Minister and now lawyer.
- Many of our Politics students choose to participate in our debating activities, including competitions such as the Model United Nations.
- We contribute an Introduction to Philosophy course to the School’s Junior Scholars Programme.
- We organise mock General Elections, and most recently a mock Referendum on EU membership, with talks in the School Assembly, and in which pupils from all year groups have the opportunity to stand as candidates, campaign and - of course - vote.
- We also organise annual Mock Law Cases, as well as an annual trip to Parliament.
Regular Trips, Visitors and Competitions
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Each year we take our Lower Sixth students to Westminster for a tour of Parliament and activities organised by the Parliamentary Education Unit.
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We aim to offer our Sixth students the opportunity to attend lectures on aspects of UK and US politics given by eminent academics and political commentators.