Main Aims:

• Develop a critical awareness of the nature of politics and the relationship between political ideas, institutions and processes
• Enquire knowledge and understanding of the structures of authority and power within the political system of the UK and how these may differ from those of other political systems
• Develop a capacity for critical thinking, to see relationships between different aspects of the subject of Government and Politics and to perceive their field of study in a broader perspective
• Comprehend, synthesise and interpret political information in a variety of forms, for example written, oral, visual and numerical sources
• Include where appropriate reference to current political debates about issues specified in the criteria.

Politics Trips

As part of the AS study, Unit One pupils travel to Stormont in Belfast to observe the Northern Ireland Parliament in action. This experience gives the pupils a valuable insight into the workings of the Northern Ireland Government. The pupils are then given a conducted tour of the Stormont building and a short talk on government history. This will be followed by a meeting with five major political figures from various political parties.

As a follow up to this event pupils from Down High School are invited to join our pupils in a school based exercise. The focus of this exercise is the setting up of government in Northern Ireland . The pupils have found this to be a very valuable exercise. At the end of the second term Year 13 pupils will travel to Stormont to engage in a debate with members of the Assembly. Pupils from Down High School will also be present on this trip.