Politics

Exam Board & Specification: Edexcel A-Level Politics (9PL0)

Subject Lead:

Mr G Green

What will students study at Key Stage 5?

Year 12: Focus on UK politics and government (elections, parties, constitution, Parliament, PM & executive) plus core political ideas (liberalism, conservatism, socialism) with applied case material.

Year 13: Comparative study (US/other) deepens institutional and ideological analysis; students evaluate arguments using contemporary evidence and extended writing.

What do assessments test?

• AO1: Knowledge/understanding of political systems/ideas
• AO2: Application to UK/US/comparative contexts
• AO3: Analysis/evaluation of political information and arguments

What are the expectations of my child in this subject?

Attend all lessons, meet deadlines, keep high‑quality notes, and use independent study effectively (at least the Sixth Form expectation per subject). Build habits of spaced retrieval, interleaved practice and regular past‑paper work.

What should my child do if they feel they are struggling in this subject?

Speak to the subject teacher promptly, identify precise topic/skill gaps, attend clinics/interventions, and use targeted resources (examiner reports, model answers, required practical write‑ups or assignment checklists).

How can I best support my child in this subject?

Have short, frequent check‑ins on progress; help plan assessment timelines; encourage retrieval practice and timed responses; and ensure use of department‑recommended texts, platforms and mark schemes.