Politics
‘One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors’ - Plato
Politics, in its broadest sense, is the activity through which people make, preserve and amend the general rules under which they live. As such, politics is inextricably linked to the issues of conflict and cooperation.
The Politics department at Waldegrave intends to deliver a rich, deep and challenging curriculum that will develop an understanding of contemporary political institutions and theory. Politics students follow the Edexcel specification which reflects the demands of a modern and evolving political environment, both in the United Kingdom and the United States. The Politics department aims to develop students’ understanding of the wider political context so that they are able to understand their position in society and the world around them. In Year 12, students study the politics and government of the UK along with three core political ideologies (Liberalism, Conservatism, Socialism) and one non-core (Anarchism). In Year 13, the focus is on the political system of the USA and making comparisons with the UK system.
The Politics curriculum extends beyond the classroom with a trip to Parliament in Year 12 and the US in future years. We also have political speakers in school and trips to other relevant political events.
