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Brighton | A-level Government and Politics Factsheet

A-level Government and Politics

Overview

Studying this subject will develop your understanding of structures of authority and power, how political systems differ, and enable you to interpret, evaluate and comment on the nature of politics and government. You will develop a range of transferable analytical, debating and communication skills.

Key Facts

Start Dates:

  • 8 September 2025
  • 5 January 2026

Colleges:

  • Brighton (only for students on the two-year programme)
  • London
  • Oxford (only for students on the two-year programme)

Entry level:

  • Academic: Completed 10 years of schooling (GCSE or equivalent)
  • English: IELTS 5.5 or equivalent

Minimum age:

  • 16

Length:

  • 2 Academic Years (3 terms)
  • We also offer an entry from Year 12.

Lessons:

  • Average 7 hours per week for each A-level subject (plus homework and private study)

Learning outcomes

  • Gain UK national university entrance qualification
  • Raise English to university level
  • Develop study skills required at degree level
  • Develop specialist subject expertise

Course content and structure

The following syllabus outline is based on Edexcel exam board content. Please note that exam boards may vary from college to college.

Year 1

Democracy in the context of the UK

  • Direct democracy and representative democracy
  • Participation

A wider franchise

  • History of UK franchise extension
  • Barriers to the franchise

Group Politics

  • Pressure groups
  • Other organisations and groups: think tanks, lobbyists and corporations

Rights in context

  • Historical development of rights in the UK

Political parties

  • Introduction to UK political parties
  • Political party funding
  • Established political parties: The Conservative Party, The Labour Party,The Liberal Democrats
  • Emerging and minor UK political parties
  • The current UK party system — a multi-party

Electoral systems

  • Elections and democracy
  • First Past the Post Voting system
  • Other electoral systems used in the UK
  • Referendums in the UK

Voting behaviour and the role of the media in politics

  • How the UK votes by region, class, gender
  • The role of the media

UK Government: The Constitution

  • Nature and history of the UK Constitution
  • Constitutional change since 1997 — the Labour Party
  • Constitutional change since 1997
  • Conservative Party 2010 – 7
  • Devolution in England
  • Devolution in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
  • Debates on further constitutional reform

Parliament

  • The structure and role of the Commons and the Lords
  • Functions of Parliament
  • Powers of the Commons and Lords
  • Effectiveness of Parliament

The PM and the Executive Branch

  • The structure, role, and powers of the executive
  • The concept of ministerial responsibility
  • The PM and the Cabinet
  • The Supreme Court

The EU

  • The aims, role and impact of the European Union (EU) on UK government
  • The location of sovereignty in the UK political system
  • Core Political Ideas: Liberalism, Conservatism, Nationalism, Socialism

Year 2

The US Constitution

  • The nature of the US Constitution
  • The principles of the US Constitution

US federalism

  • The main characteristics of federalism
  • Interpretations and debates around the US Constitution and federalism

Democracy and participation: electoral systems

  • Presidential elections
  • The main processes to elect a US president
  • The importance of incumbency on a president seeking a second term
  • Interpretations and debates of US democracy
  • Campaign finance
  • The key ideas and principles of the Democratic and Republican parties
  • The distribution of power and changing significance of the parties
  • Coalition of supporters for each party
  • Interest groups in the USA

US presidency

  • Formal sources of presidential power as outlined in the US Constitution
  • Informal sources of presidential power and their use
  • Interpretations of the US presidency

US Supreme Court and civil rights

  • The nature and role of the Supreme Court
  • The appointment process
  • The Supreme Court and public policy
  • The protection of civil liberties and rights
  • Race and rights in contemporary US politics

US Congress

  • The structure of Congress
  • The distribution of powers within Congress
  • The functions of Congress

Typical A-level subject combinations with Government and Politics

Sample enrichment activities

  • Houses of Parliament trip
  • Current Affairs and News Club
  • History film Club
  • Trinity Arts awards
  • Debating Society

Sample academic calendar (2025-2026 and 2026-27)

Year 1

Sept

8th: term starts
Student induction

Oct

27th – 31st: half term
Progress tests

Nov

University fairs and talks

Dec

12th: term ends
End of term exams

Jan

5th: term starts

Feb

12th – 13th: half term
Progress tests
University fairs

Mar

End of term exams
20th: term ends

Apr

6th: term starts

May

Progress tests

June

Exams
12th: term ends

Year 2

Sept

7th Sept: term starts

Oct

26th – 30th: half term
15th October: UCAS deadline (Medicine)
Progress tests

Nov

University fairs and talks

Dec

11th: term ends
End of term exams

Jan

4th: term starts
15th January: UCAS deadline (other subjects)

Feb

11th – 12th: half term
Progress tests

Mar

19th: term ends
Mock exams

Apr

5th: term starts
Progress tests

May

Final exams

June

11th June: term ends

Recommended reading

Below is a list of books which may help you prepare for your studies prior to arrival. Please note that additional books, and online resources such as websites and journals will be shared once you begin your course.

  • UK Government and Politics for AS/A Level by P. Lynch
  • Essentials of UK Politics by Andrew Heywood
  • US Government and Politics for A Level by Anthony J. Bennett

Degree progression

An A-level in Government and Politics provides an excellent background for careers in law, journalism, the caring professions, teaching, and a range of management and business areas. Example degree courses which generally require or accept Politics A-level include:

  • Economics
  • History
  • International Relations
  • Journalism
  • Law
  • Politics
  • Social Policy

Sample alumni progression

Elda Lauka

  • Politics/Economics/Maths
  • University of York (Politics with International Relations)

Anar Gyulyumov

  • Politics/Economics/Maths
  • University of York (Philosophy, Politics and Economics)

Lidingrong Huang

  • Politics/Economics/Maths
  • University of York (Economics)