Why this course? Politics is a subject that impacts on our lives at every level. Essentially it is a study on how power in distributed within a state and how we ensure it is not misused. In Politics A Level we look at the methods we have to ensure our country is a democracy and how we monitor and diffuse threats to this. We also look at the ideology that underpins political parties make and how that plays out in policy decisions. In an increasingly global world, as global citizens we also need to be aware of how power is shared across the world and how decisions our government makes can impact on people thousands of miles away. As such our comparative unit looks at global politics. Student profile This course is for students who want to engage with the world around them and investigate the difference power makes to societies and individuals. Students should be intellectually curious and take an interest in current events. There is a lot of flexibility in terms of your engagement activity and the case studies you choose- so passion around political themes such as injustice, equality and the environment will give you a great start. You should also have an open mind and be ready to recognise that people may disagree with you and that there may not be a definitive answer. Critical engagement with theorists and commentators will be essential. If you enjoy discussion, analysing arguments and want to become more confident and articulate – this is a great course for you to study. Progression A Level Politics is respected by universities and provides a strong basis for studying the Humanities and the Social Sciences. It is excellent for a range of careers such as Local government, politician, civil servant, charity sector, diplomat, international development, police, law and journalism. At Northfleet School for Girls we are committed to making links to careers and so you should expect to have encounters with politicians, think tanks and representatives from the charity sectors.