Politics — Year 11

 

Politics Overview
Curriculum

Term 1: Power and Influence

In this section students revisit key ideas about democracy, rights and responsibilities in Themes A–C as they explore ideas about power. In particular they consider power in relation to the ways in which citizens, governments and the media exercise power and influence in a range of local to global situations. They contrast representative democracy in the UK with a non-democratic political system and the limits this places on the rights and freedoms of citizens.

End of unit assessment taken from Paper 2 covering Theme D

British values
A set of standards which reflect the ideals of the British society.

Campaigning
Actions or events organised by an individual or a group of people to achieve an aim.

Citizenship
Being a citizen of a country and being vested with the rights and responsibilities of that state.

Civil law
Law that deals with disputes between individuals or groups. There are civil courts which award damages (a money payment).

Democracy
A system of government, where the citizens are able to vote in regular and fair elections for representatives, who will make laws and decisions on their behalf.

Human rights
Basic rights and freedoms which all people are entitled to

Public spending
The money spent by the state

Rights
A right is something we are entitled to by law.

Society
The people living together in an ordered community.

Advocacy
Representing or supporting a person or an organisation by writing, speaking or taking action on behalf of that person or organisation.

Censorship
The control of information or ideas within a society.

Common law
Law made by the decisions of judges over the years

Devolution
The transfer of some powers from the Government to the Welsh Assembly, the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Scottish Parliament.

EU (The European Union)
An economic and political union between a number of European countries, who work closely together

Legislature
The law-making body of the state i.e. the Parliament.

Charities
Local, national or international organisations which are set up to help those in need. The term also has a legal status as charities registered with the Government receive some tax benefits.

Commonwealth
An international association between the UK and the countries which were previously part of the British Empire.

Council of Europe
An intergovernmental organisation founded in 1949, which encourages European countries to cooperate with each other. It is an independent body and should not be confused with the European Union, which is a completely separate organisation.

Demonstration
A public meeting or march protesting against a specific issue

Devolution
The transfer of some powers from the Government to the Welsh Assembly, the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Scottish Parliament.

The media
Mass media – television, radio and printed media which can reach a large number of people. New media – the internet and social media.

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation)
An international military defence organisation comprising of different countries who work together to try and settle disputes amongst nations.

NGO (Non-Governmental Organisation)
A non-profit, voluntary group of citizens who work on a local, national or international level to achieve an aim. They are not controlled by the government, but will often work closely with them. An example of an NGO is Save the Children.

Police
An official state organisation which is responsible for maintaining public order by preventing and detecting crime.

Pressure group
An organised group of people who take action together to try to bring about change regarding a specific issue.

  • Spiritual
  • Moral
  • Social
  • Cultural

Develop the individual:
Examining ways in which citizens co-operate to try and improve society and democracy through different kinds of political and citizen actions.

Create a supportive community:
Investigating global issues and problems facing society from the environment to humanitarian and conflict situations.

Term 2: Taking Citizenship Action

Taking citizenship action in a real out-of-classroom context allows students to apply citizenship knowledge, understanding and skills, and to gain different citizenship insights and appreciate different perspectives on how we live together and make decisions in society. It requires them to practise a range of citizenship skills including: research and enquiry, interpretation of evidence, including primary and secondary sources, planning, collaboration, problem solving, advocacy, campaigning and evaluation.

Students will be assessed on the investigation and action they have undertaken through a series of examination questions in Paper 2 that comprise 15% of the total marks.

No internal assessment on this unit but in the final GCSE external examination, students will be assessed on the investigation and action they have undertaken through a series of examination questions in Paper 2 that comprise 15% of the total marks.

Mock 2 will take place this term, covering Paper 1 (Theme A, B, C) and Paper 2 (Theme D and E)

Mock 1 will take place this term, covering Paper 1 (Theme A, B, C)

British values
A set of standards which reflect the ideals of the British society.

Campaigning
Actions or events organised by an individual or a group of people to achieve an aim.

Citizenship
Being a citizen of a country and being vested with the rights and responsibilities of that state.

Civil law
Law that deals with disputes between individuals or groups. There are civil courts which award damages (a money payment).

Democracy
A system of government, where the citizens are able to vote in regular and fair elections for representatives, who will make laws and decisions on their behalf.

Human rights
Basic rights and freedoms which all people are entitled to

Public spending
The money spent by the state

Rights
A right is something we are entitled to by law.

Society
The people living together in an ordered community.

Advocacy
Representing or supporting a person or an organisation by writing, speaking or taking action on behalf of that person or organisation.

Censorship
The control of information or ideas within a society.

Common law
Law made by the decisions of judges over the years

Devolution
The transfer of some powers from the Government to the Welsh Assembly, the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Scottish Parliament.

EU (The European Union)
An economic and political union between a number of European countries, who work closely together

Legislature
The law-making body of the state i.e. the Parliament.

Charities
Local, national or international organisations which are set up to help those in need. The term also has a legal status as charities registered with the Government receive some tax benefits.

Commonwealth
An international association between the UK and the countries which were previously part of the British Empire.

Council of Europe
An intergovernmental organisation founded in 1949, which encourages European countries to cooperate with each other. It is an independent body and should not be confused with the European Union, which is a completely separate organisation.

Demonstration
A public meeting or march protesting against a specific issue

Devolution
The transfer of some powers from the Government to the Welsh Assembly, the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Scottish Parliament.

The media
Mass media – television, radio and printed media which can reach a large number of people. New media – the internet and social media.

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation)
An international military defence organisation comprising of different countries who work together to try and settle disputes amongst nations.

NGO (Non-Governmental Organisation)
A non-profit, voluntary group of citizens who work on a local, national or international level to achieve an aim. They are not controlled by the government, but will often work closely with them. An example of an NGO is Save the Children.

Police
An official state organisation which is responsible for maintaining public order by preventing and detecting crime.

Pressure group
An organised group of people who take action together to try to bring about change regarding a specific issue.

  • Spiritual
  • Moral
  • Social
  • Cultural

Develop the individual:
Students will carry out an in-depth, critical investigation leading to citizenship action as described above

Create a supportive community:
The investigation and action can be based on any aspect or issue arising from the course content and should be designed to have an impact locally, nationally or globally.

Term 3: Taking Citizenship Action

New DescriptionTaking citizenship action in a real out-of-classroom context allows students to apply citizenship knowledge, understanding and skills, and to gain different citizenship insights and appreciate different perspectives on how we live together and make decisions in society. It requires them to practise a range of citizenship skills including: research and enquiry, interpretation of evidence, including primary and secondary sources, planning, collaboration, problem solving, advocacy, campaigning and evaluation.

Students will be assessed on the investigation and action they have undertaken through a series of examination questions in Paper 2 that comprise 15% of the total marks.

No internal assessment on this unit but in the final GCSE external examination, students will be assessed on the investigation and action they have undertaken through a series of examination questions in Paper 2 that comprise 15% of the total marks.

British values
A set of standards which reflect the ideals of the British society.

Campaigning
Actions or events organised by an individual or a group of people to achieve an aim.

Citizenship
Being a citizen of a country and being vested with the rights and responsibilities of that state.

Civil law
Law that deals with disputes between individuals or groups. There are civil courts which award damages (a money payment).

Democracy
A system of government, where the citizens are able to vote in regular and fair elections for representatives, who will make laws and decisions on their behalf.

Human rights
Basic rights and freedoms which all people are entitled to

Public spending
The money spent by the state

Rights
A right is something we are entitled to by law.

Society
The people living together in an ordered community.

Advocacy
Representing or supporting a person or an organisation by writing, speaking or taking action on behalf of that person or organisation.

Censorship
The control of information or ideas within a society.

Common law
Law made by the decisions of judges over the years

Devolution
The transfer of some powers from the Government to the Welsh Assembly, the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Scottish Parliament.

EU (The European Union)
An economic and political union between a number of European countries, who work closely together

Legislature
The law-making body of the state i.e. the Parliament.

Charities
Local, national or international organisations which are set up to help those in need. The term also has a legal status as charities registered with the Government receive some tax benefits.

Commonwealth
An international association between the UK and the countries which were previously part of the British Empire.

Council of Europe
An intergovernmental organisation founded in 1949, which encourages European countries to cooperate with each other. It is an independent body and should not be confused with the European Union, which is a completely separate organisation.

Demonstration
A public meeting or march protesting against a specific issue

Devolution
The transfer of some powers from the Government to the Welsh Assembly, the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Scottish Parliament.

The media
Mass media – television, radio and printed media which can reach a large number of people. New media – the internet and social media.

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation)
An international military defence organisation comprising of different countries who work together to try and settle disputes amongst nations.

NGO (Non-Governmental Organisation)
A non-profit, voluntary group of citizens who work on a local, national or international level to achieve an aim. They are not controlled by the government, but will often work closely with them. An example of an NGO is Save the Children.

Police
An official state organisation which is responsible for maintaining public order by preventing and detecting crime.

Pressure group
An organised group of people who take action together to try to bring about change regarding a specific issue.

  • Spiritual
  • Moral
  • Social
  • Cultural

Develop the individual:
Students will carry out an in-depth, critical investigation leading to citizenship action as described above

Create a supportive community:
The investigation and action can be based on any aspect or issue arising from the course content and should be designed to have an impact locally, nationally or globally.

Term 4: Revision

Students will review and revise all key content from the GCSE course to prepare for their GCSE external examinations.

External GCSE examination

British values
A set of standards which reflect the ideals of the British society.

Campaigning
Actions or events organised by an individual or a group of people to achieve an aim.

Citizenship
Being a citizen of a country and being vested with the rights and responsibilities of that state.

Civil law
Law that deals with disputes between individuals or groups. There are civil courts which award damages (a money payment).

Democracy
A system of government, where the citizens are able to vote in regular and fair elections for representatives, who will make laws and decisions on their behalf.

Human rights
Basic rights and freedoms which all people are entitled to

Public spending
The money spent by the state

Rights
A right is something we are entitled to by law.

Society
The people living together in an ordered community.

Advocacy
Representing or supporting a person or an organisation by writing, speaking or taking action on behalf of that person or organisation.

Censorship
The control of information or ideas within a society.

Common law
Law made by the decisions of judges over the years

Devolution
The transfer of some powers from the Government to the Welsh Assembly, the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Scottish Parliament.

EU (The European Union)
An economic and political union between a number of European countries, who work closely together

Legislature
The law-making body of the state i.e. the Parliament.

Charities
Local, national or international organisations which are set up to help those in need. The term also has a legal status as charities registered with the Government receive some tax benefits.

Commonwealth
An international association between the UK and the countries which were previously part of the British Empire.

Council of Europe
An intergovernmental organisation founded in 1949, which encourages European countries to cooperate with each other. It is an independent body and should not be confused with the European Union, which is a completely separate organisation.

Demonstration
A public meeting or march protesting against a specific issue

Devolution
The transfer of some powers from the Government to the Welsh Assembly, the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Scottish Parliament.

The media
Mass media – television, radio and printed media which can reach a large number of people. New media – the internet and social media.

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation)
An international military defence organisation comprising of different countries who work together to try and settle disputes amongst nations.

NGO (Non-Governmental Organisation)
A non-profit, voluntary group of citizens who work on a local, national or international level to achieve an aim. They are not controlled by the government, but will often work closely with them. An example of an NGO is Save the Children.

Police
An official state organisation which is responsible for maintaining public order by preventing and detecting crime.

Pressure group
An organised group of people who take action together to try to bring about change regarding a specific issue.

  • Spiritual
  • Moral
  • Social
  • Cultural

Develop the individual:
Know and understand what democracy is, how parliamentary democracy operates within the constituent parts of the UK, how government works and how democratic and nondemocratic systems of government are different beyond the UK.

Create a supportive community:
Use and apply citizenship knowledge, understanding and skills in order to participate in responsible actions to address citizenship issues aimed at improving society and positively contributing to democracy and public life.