Politics
Politics is the most dynamic subject a student can study: it changes every day. Studying the course will answer questions such as: what is power; why do people vote the way they do; do we have a ‘participation crisis’ in the UK; why are some Prime Minsters more powerful than others and are judges more powerful in the USA than the UK?
The course also allows students to study the fundamental ideologies that have influenced most political thought over the past 250 years; Liberalism, Conservatism, Socialism and Nationalism.
Paper 1: UK Politics
- UK Democracy and Participation: is the UK a good example of a liberal democracy? Is there a ‘participation crisis’ in the UK?
- UK Voting Behaviour: why do people vote for the party or candidate they do? Why do some people not vote?
- Political Parties: understanding the history and policies of the Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat parties.
- UK Pressure Groups: how do groups like Greenpeace and the CBI influence the political system?
- UK Core Executive: a look at the inner workings of the UK government including the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
- Parliament: a study of the UK’s legislative branch. Is it effective in carrying out its key functions?
Paper 2: US and Comparative Politics
- US Constitution: analysing the US’s codified constitution and federal system of government
- US Presidency: evaluating presidents from George Washington to Donald Trump
Paper 3: Political Ideas
- Liberalism: studying core liberal concepts such as freedom and justice.
- Conservatism: studying core conservative principles such as hierarchy and property
- Socialism: studying core socialists concepts such as collectivism and equality
- Nationalism: studying core nationalist principles such as sovereignty and the state
Many of our students study Politics and Politics-related subjects at universities around the country. Other than single honours Politics courses, many choose to take it with Law, History, Philosophy or Economics. Related courses include Parliamentary Studies, Journalism, American Studies or International Relations. Careers in the Civil Service are common, as are careers in journalism, front-line politics, public relations and political lobbying.
- We have many guest speakers, including MPs, Lords, Civil Servants and local politicians. We enter students for Model UN and debating competitions (We are NW Champions!).
We have a trip to Washington DC and Philadelphia. For more information about this trip please see the Trips and Travel page
Related Courses
Skip CoursesCriminology
This course is an investigation into crime, criminality and the criminal justice system. The course assumes no prior knowledge of the subject and will appeal to anyone who is interested[...]
Economics
Economics is concerned with the activities of different groups such as consumers, businesses and governments. It examines issues which are increasingly dealt with in the media such as debt, recession,[...]
English Language
The course covers topics such as how we acquire it from birth, how it varies according to factors like accent, gender, ethnicity and how and why English has become a[...]
History
A level history is a fascinating and engaging subject for those who are intrigued by the past and want to discover how events have impacted the world in which we live[...]
Law
The A-level Law course covers a variety of interesting topics. The course takes you from how laws are made, the people who work in the legal system, the criminal law,[...]
Sociology
The study of Sociology provides you with alternative ways of looking at society and examines how people interact as individuals and in differing social groups within Britain and the world.
Uniformed Protective Services BTEC
BTEC Uniformed Protective Services is a relatively new subject at Aquinas College which offers a wide ranging curriculum touching on areas of practical leadership and teamwork activities, Sociology, Police related[...]
Latest From Aquinas
After careful consideration, Aquinas College has decided to discontinue our presence on X/Twitter. The platform no longer aligns with our values as an educational institution committed to fostering respect, inclusivity and thoughtful engagement. To prevent any misuse of our identity, we will retain the account but have discontinued all activity.
In June 2022, Aquinas College set out to explore the possibility of expanding our campus with additional classrooms to enhance the educational experience we provide to our students. A dedicated team was assembled, and a feasibility study was conducted with architects and consultants to assess the project’s viability. Once feasibility was confirmed, we began the […]
Law Trip to London
On Thursday 6th November, 26 Upper 6 BTEC and A-Level Law students and 3 staff visited London for our annual trip to Parliament (House of Commons and House of Lords), the UK Supreme Court and the London Dungeon. All students were impeccably behaved, showed a great sense of fun and engaged superbly with MP Lisa […]
Drama students and students from the Arts Award programme participated in a careers workshop led by Thom Stocks from the Royal Exchange Theatre company on Monday 4th November. The students focused on identifying career opportunities and professional roles within the theatre industry.
