Government and Politics

Government and Politics is a popular choice and is offered only at A-level as a two-year course.

The course provides students with an understanding of the modern and evolving political environment in the UK and the USA alongside key political ideologies that have shaped our world. Students will study the following units:

Component 1: UK Politics (including political parties, electoral systems and voting behaviour) and Core Political Ideas (conservatism, liberalism socialism)
Component 2: UK Government (including the constitution, Parliament, Prime Minister and Cabinet) and Non-core Political Ideas (feminism)
Component 3: Comparative Politics (US Government and Politics – including the constitution, Congress, the Presidency and the Supreme Court)

We follow the Edexcel specification and assessment is taken at the end of the two years of study.

The department is very active in creating dynamic learning opportunities outside of the curriculum. Mr Wakeham was a policy advisor in Whitehall before training as a teacher, and his pupils benefit from his unique insight into the inner workings of Government. Recent highlights include our annual visit to Parliament, during which pupils spend an afternoon in the House of Lords, gaining first-hand exposure to parliamentary processes. Later this year, we are planning a Q&A session at the school with our local MP, James MacCleary, who has represented Lewes since 2024. We also attend an annual Politics Conference, where pupils hear directly from leading political figures and commentators such as Alastair Campbell and Zack Polanski, enriching their understanding of current political debate. In addition, the department organised a major Politics trip to New York and Washington DC, giving students first-hand experience of American political institutions and culture. Further opportunities are planned for the next academic year.