5 Reasons to Study Politics

Sixth Form students Jess, Chris and Sam offer 5 reasons why they believe every teenager should study A Level Politics.

Government and Politics is a fantastic A Level that has shown us just how great an influence Politics has on us and has broken the illusion that we are disconnected from it.

Recent months have seen the Scottish Independence referendum, attacks on free speech in Paris and, crucially, the General Election in May is now on the horizon.

Aside from the huge benefits that this course brings with it in terms of an understanding of events that are happening around us, here are our Top 5 Reasons to study Politics:

1. Politics Helps You to Know Your Rights

The course has allowed us to see beyond our initial belief that we have no real say in the running of our country. It has truly educated us on a fundamental part of our society and has helped us to understand that if we engage in political processes, using the pressure points built into the system, then every individual really does have the opportunity to change the world. 

2. Politics Clarifies What You Yourself Believe

Studying the things we have studied has given us the opportunity to discover our own political beliefs and to see in much greater detail the benefits and disadvantages of the vast array of political ideologies that are present in the world today. Being able to express what you believe accurately and concisely is extremely useful, and forces you to really look at yourself!

3. Politics is a Living, Breathing Subject

In Politics, textbooks go out of date the day they are published. Why? Because the political landscape changes every day, with new examples appearing constantly in the media. Picking which examples to use in your answers to essay questions is really exciting as something that has happened on the day you are taking your A Level exams can appear in your response!

4. Politics Helps You to Understand Our Nation's Parties

After just one term of the subject we have learnt about democracy and our rights, ideologies and party policies, the Constitution and Parliament. With the knowledge gained from the classroom, we have been able to watch events unfold worldwide, have seen our leaders' reactions to these events and have come to understand these reactions as demonstrations of what we have learned.

5. Politics Prepares You for Adult Life

The world of British politics really opens up to teenagers after our eighteenth birthdays, with the vote giving us the ability to change our nation and allow the principles we hold dear to thrive. With this in mind, it could easily be said that Government and Politics is the most applicable subject on offer at any school, and is a subject that people should be encouraged to take due to nothing less than the way it prepares you for entering the adult world.

Learn more about Politics at Bede's

Learn more about Bede's Sixth Form