GCSE Exam & Specification
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GCSE Exam Board: |
Edexcel |
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Link to GCSE Specification: |
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Curriculum Intent
Our curriculum is designed to meet the needs of our students in our local context and is underpinned by these 4 guiding principles:
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Rich and Powerful Knowledge: Knowledge is at the heart of politics and informs our opinions. We want students to be passionate about their view on a debate however to do this they must have the applicable knowledge. Students work through UK Politics before learning about UK Government so they can constantly apply their learning. In Year 13, students are asked to compare the US and UK.
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Objective and Question Driven: Every lesson has clear objective, and teacher position around this. Every scheme of learning is focused on an enquiry questions and debates. For example, Autumn 1 in Year 13 focuses on the US Constitution and we determine whether the US Constitution is still fit for purpose.
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Mastering The Foundations (Literacy and Numeracy): Every lesson has reading to support new knowledge acquisition. Students work with academic texts and debates and learn new vocabulary through the CKO Politics booklet. This enables them to access more challenging content and debates.
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Inclusive and Ambitious: The curriculum includes rigorous content that pushes students to engage deeply with complex political theories, concepts, and issues. Emphasis is placed on developing critical thinking, analytical skills, and the ability to evaluate and synthesize information, preparing students for higher education and professional success. Furthermore, the curriculum covers political theories, systems, and case studies from around the world, ensuring students are exposed to a variety of political landscapes beyond the typical Western focus. The curriculum is also ambitious. Students engage with advanced topics such as the intricacies of constitutional law, international relations theories, and the impact of digital media on politics.
Implementation
Our curriculum implementation is shaped across all phases of the academy by a set of shared principles that underpin pedagogy at AINA. The following curriculum map outlines the ambitious curriculum your child will experience at AINA.
Year 12 - Government and Politics
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UK Politics: Democracy and Participation & Political Parties - To explain, analyse and evaluate the current systems of representative and direct democracy - To explain, analyse and evaluate the franchise and debates over suffrage - To explain, analyse and evaluate the role of Pressure Groups and other influences - To explain, analyse and evaluate the context of rights in the UK - To explain, analyse and evaluate UK Political Parties |
UK Politics: Electoral Systems - To explain, analyse and evaluate different electoral systems - To explain, analyse and evaluate the role of Referendums |
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Core Political Ideas: Liberalism - To explain, analyse and evaluate the core ideas and principles of liberalism - To explain, analyse and evaluate the differing views and tensions within liberalism - To explain, analyse and evaluate the key thinkers and their ideas of liberalism |
Core Political Ideas: Conservatism - To explain, analyse and evaluate the core ideas and principles of conservatism - To explain, analyse and evaluate the differing views and tensions within conservatism - To explain, analyse and evaluate the key thinkers and their ideas of conservatism |
| Spring 1 | Spring 2 |
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UK Politics: Voting Behaviour and the Media - To explain, analyse and evaluate 3 UK general elections - To explain, analyse and evaluate the influence of the media |
UK Government: The Constitution & Parliament - To explain, analyse and evaluate the nature of the UK Constitution and how it has changed since 1997 - To explain, analyse and evaluate the role of devolution and the argument for further reform - To explain, analyse and evaluate the structure and roles of the House of Commons and Lords - To explain, analyse and evaluate the legislative process - To explain, analyse and evaluate the way in which parliament interacts with the executive |
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Core Political Ideas: Socialism - To explain, analyse and evaluate the core ideas and principles of socialism - To explain, analyse and evaluate the differing views and tensions within socialism - To explain, analyse and evaluate the key thinkers and their ideas of socialism |
Core Political Ideas: Feminism - To explain, analyse and evaluate the core ideas and principles of feminism - To explain, analyse and evaluate the differing views and tensions within feminism - To explain, analyse and evaluate the key thinkers and their ideas of feminism |
| Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
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UK Government: Prime Minister and Executive - To explain, analyse and evaluate the role of the executive - To explain, analyse and evaluate the concept of ministerial responsibility - To explain, analyse and evaluate the prime minster and cabinet |
UK Government: Relations between institutions - To explain, analyse and evaluate the role of the Supreme Court - To explain, analyse and evaluate the relationship between the executive and parliament - To explain, analyse and evaluate the role and impact of the EU - To explain, analyse and evaluate the location of sovereignty in the UK |
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Re - teach |
USA: Constitution and Federalism - To explain, analyse and evaluate the theoretical comparative approaches and to apply them to US and UK Constitutions |
Year 13 - Government and Politics
| Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 |
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USA: Congress - To explain, analyse and evaluate the structure and functions of Congress - To explain, analyse and evaluate the comparative approaches to US and UK Legislatures |
USA: Presidency - To explain, analyse and evaluate the sources of presidential power - To explain, analyse and evaluate the roles and power of the president - To explain, analyse and evaluate the comparative approaches to the US and UK Executives |
| Spring 1 | Spring 2 |
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USA: The Supreme Court and Civil Rights - To explain, analyse and evaluate the role of the Supreme Court - To explain, analyse and evaluate the appointment process for the Supreme Court - To explain, analyse and evaluate the Supreme Court and public policy - To explain, analyse and evaluate the protection of race and rights in the US today - To explain, analyse and evaluate the comparative approaches to the US and UK judiciaries |
USA: Democracy and Participation - To explain, analyse and evaluate electoral systems in the USA - To explain, analyse and evaluate the key ideas and principles of the Republican and Democrat parties - To explain, analyse and evaluate interest groups in the USA - To explain, analyse and evaluate the comparative approaches to US and UK democracy and participation |
| Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
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Revision Revision strategy to be tailored towards cohort specific gaps and misconceptions. |
Support from Home
Recommended websites/online platforms for home/independent learning:
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The Guardian - Most read quality Newspaper in the world, It’s excellent on both British and American politics. Centre left leanings, however, it has no owner pushing a political agenda.
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The Independent - Owned by a Russian oligarch, this newspaper purports to be politically neutral.
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The Telegraph - follows a right-wing agenda and doesn’t have the reach internationally of the other newspapers in this list. It’s owned by two right wing UK tax exiles.
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New York Times - This newspaper vies with the Guardian for the most read quality newspaper on-line. It follows a moderate but not politically neutral line.
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BBC News – Most trusted source worldwide.
Feedback
Our aim is to ensure feedback helps drive student achievement by providing meaningful information that helps to address misconceptions and close curriculum and knowledge gaps.
Every piece of feedback given to our students should results in an action by the student. The following types of feedback that are given to students at AINA are:
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Self and peer assessment
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Written feedback
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Verbal feedback
Students receive written teacher feedback after formative diagnostic or interim assessments. The cycle is as follows:
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A score/percentage for the assessment
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Precise teacher comment/s linked to the curriculum/knowledge gap written in red
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A response/action/redo by the student in green pen
Career Pathways
Success in this subject can lead to:
University courses in:
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History
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Politics
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Economics
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Philosophy
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Law
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Business
Careers in:
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Civil Service
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Government social research officer
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Policy officer
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Political risk analyst
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Politician’s assistant
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Public affairs consultant
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Social researcher
Enrichment & Educational Visits
Enrichment and educational visits in this subject may include:
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House of Commons
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House of Lords
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Supreme Court
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Competitions