Politics shapes the world we live in. Every day, decisions made in parliaments, councils and congresses decide how we are educated, how we are cared for, what we earn, and which freedoms we enjoy. To study politics is to understand how those decisions are made, who makes them, and how each of us can help to make them well.
Power is never neutral. Used well, political power can feed the hungry, protect the vulnerable, defend human rights, build peace and give every person the chance to flourish. Used badly, it can silence dissent, divide communities, spread falsehood and wage war. History, and the news today, offers examples of both. The Book of Proverbs says it simply:
“When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when the wicked rule, the people groan.” Proverbs 29:2
In the twenty-first century, this has never mattered more. We live in an age of rapid change and global challenges, from climate change and migration to artificial intelligence and conflict, surrounded by a constant stream of competing voices, not all of them truthful. The decisions of those in power now reach further and faster than ever before. In this world, political participation is not optional. Democracy depends on citizens who vote, who ask questions, who hold those in power to account, and who speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. When thoughtful people stand aside, power passes into other hands.
Participation begins with understanding. Young people need to be able to weigh evidence, question claims, recognise bias and misinformation, disagree with respect and judge fairly, so that they can take part in public life with knowledge, courage and integrity.
As a Catholic school, we see politics as a way of serving the common good and standing up for the dignity of every person. Catholic social teaching reminds us that taking part in public life is both a right and a responsibility. Our students are encouraged to ask not only how power works, but how it should be used: with justice, compassion and a particular care for the vulnerable.
What we study:
Our students follow the Edexcel A Level Politics specification, exploring UK politics and political ideas, and studying the politics of the USA as our comparative unit. By setting two democracies side by side, they learn to analyse and evaluate different systems of government, to see how power is shared, checked and sometimes misused, and to understand their own system more clearly. In addition, we also study the core ideologies of Liberalism, Socialism and Conservatism and the non-core ideologies of Feminism or Nationalism.
We aim to form thoughtful, informed and compassionate citizens who will not stand on the sidelines, but who will use their voice, their vote and their talents to help build a fairer and more peaceful world.