Humanities

Government and Politics A Level (Humanities Faculty)

Course Summary

A Level Politics enables students to develop their critical thinking skills and enhances their ability to interpret, evaluate and comment on the nature of politics.  Students acquire knowledge of the structures of authority and power within the political systems of the United Kingdom and are encouraged to think and debate more widely about how other political systems may differ.  They gain a genuine understanding of the world around them – at a time when young people have never been more interested in global politics. Written and oral skills will be strengthened ahead of university or the workplace as students develop the ability to put forward arguments and analyse differing points of view. Each unit is assessed through a written examination of 2 hours duration.

Year 1: British Politics Topics: The British Constitution · Parliament · Prime Minister and Cabinet · The Judiciary · Devolution · Democracy and Participation · Elections and Referendums · Political Parties · Pressure Groups · The EU                                                      

Year 2: USA Politics Topics: The Constitutional Framework · Legislative Branch – Congress · Executive Branch -President  · Judicial Branch – The Supreme Court · US Electoral Process and Direct Democracy · Political Parties ·  Pressure Groups · Civil Rights ·

Liberalism · Conservatism · Socialism · Ecologism

Where might it lead

A Level Politics provides the opportunity for learners to progress to Higher Education or directly to employment. Specific areas Politics lends itself to are journalism, media, teaching, the legal profession or even starting on the path to a career in Politics and becoming a future Prime Minister!

Student perspective

A Level Politics is a really enjoyable subject which has helped me to understand how politics shapes the country and how it works both in Britain and the USA.  It has extended and developed my debating skills and the support I received with essay writing and exam technique was absolutely fantastic”.

Rosie Benny, graduated 2017 with an A in Politics

Entrance Criteria

In addition to a minimum of 5 GCSE’s inc Maths and English at grade 5 or above

Grade 6 in a GCSE Humanity subject.

Assessment Criteria

A Level Politics

UNIT 1 GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS OF THE UK  2 hrs written paper                                                                                                                          

UNIT 2  GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS OF THE USA AND COMPARATIVE POLITICS  2hrs written paper                                                                                    

UNIT 3 POLITICAL IDEAS  2hrs written paper                                                                                                                        

Each of the three units represents 33⅓% of the total A-level.

Exam Board

AQA

Contact details

Mrs Sarah Kirkham – skm@knutsfordacademy.org.uk Teacher in charge of Politics

History A Level - Conflict & Stability (Humanities Faculty)

Course Summary

The Tudors: England 1485-1603

From the ashes of the Wars of the Roses, Henry VII’s consolidation of power resulted in the establishment of the Tudor dynasty. Henry VIII’s wars with Scotland and France did less to bring conflict to the country than the English Reformation and the succession crisis. Elizabeth faced serious Catholic plots against her before establishing her triumphant ‘Golden Age’.

The Cold War, c1945-1991

A study of international developments from the end of the Second World War to the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of communism in eastern Europe. This includes the world on the brink over Soviet missiles in Cuba, the US drawn into war in Vietnam and subsequent attempts to ‘thaw’ hostilities by the late 1980s.

Where might it lead

A Level History is very valuable and employment prospects for those with the qualification are good. Students develop an objective way of thinking which makes the qualification an excellent foundation for Higher Education. The study of History promotes and enhances a broad range of skills that are very relevant to a wide range of employment paths, including law, business and teaching.

Student perspective

“Studying History is essential in that it examines how and why things have happened; a better bank of knowledge of experiences promotes better choices in the future and prevents us repeating past mistakes. A Level History goes some way to allowing students to explore and develop critical thinking. Being able to analyse different historical events in detail and objectively helps to create a balanced viewpoint – surely a skill relevant to any career or important simply to increase understanding, empathy and tolerance in society as a whole.”

Sara Coggin Year 13

Entrance Criteria

In addition to a minimum of 5 GCSE’s inc Maths and English at grade 6 or above.

Grade 6 at GCSE History.

Assessment Criteria

A Level History

COMPONENT 1 THE TUDORS  2 hr 30 mins written paper

COMPONENT 2  THE COLD WAR  2 hr 30 mins written paper

COMPONENT 3  Coursework essay

Exam Board

AQA

Contact details

Mr Paul Scott – pst@knutsfordacademy.org.uk Head of History

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History A Level - Impact of Ideology (Humanities Faculty)

Course Summary

The Tudors: England 1485-1603

A study of Tudor history from the consolidation of power of the monarchy by Henry VII to ‘the Golden Age’ of Queen Elizabeth I. A key theme is the impact of Henry VIII’s Royal Supremacy, a development that unleashed a ‘rollercoaster’ religious policy and the conflict caused by rival Catholic and Protestant ideologies.

Democracy and Nazism: Germany, 1918-1945

A study of a period of German history during which a newly developed democratic form of government gave way to a dictatorial Nazi regime. This involves the exploration of ideological concepts such as anti-Semitism and includes a study of the Holocaust.

Where might it lead

A Level History is very valuable and employment prospects for those with the qualification are good. Students develop an objective way of thinking which makes the qualification an excellent foundation for Higher Education. The study of History promotes and enhances a broad range of skills that are very relevant to a wide range of employment paths, including law, business and teaching.

Student perspective

“Studying History is essential in that it examines how and why things have happened; a better bank of knowledge of experiences promotes better choices in the future and prevents us repeating past mistakes. A Level History goes some way to allowing students to explore and develop critical thinking. Being able to analyse different historical events in detail and objectively helps to create a balanced viewpoint – surely a skill relevant to any career or important simply to increase understanding, empathy and tolerance in society as a whole.”

Sara Coggin Year 13

Entrance Criteria

In addition to a minimum of 5 GCSE’s inc Maths and English at grade 5 or above.

Grade 6 or above at GCSE History.

Assessment Criteria

A Level History

COMPONENT 1 THE TUDORS  2 hr 30 mins written paper

COMPONENT 2  DEMOCRACY & NAZISM  2 hr 30 mins written paper

COMPONENT 3  Coursework essay

Exam Board

AQA

Contact details

Mr Paul Scott – pst@knutsfordacademy.org.uk Head of History

Religious Studies A Level (Humanities Faculty)

Course Summary

Philosophy has been the starting point for every field of academia being studied in our modern time. Questions asked by the ancient Greek philosophers have developed into the modern subjects as diverse as Psychology, Sociology, the Sciences, and Law. A Level RS focusses on the disciplines of Philosophy of Religion and Ethics. Within these two units, some fundamental questions are studied. These are questions such as, “does God exist?”, “is there a purpose to life?”, “how does one live a good life?”, “what is ‘good’?”.

Central to the study of Philosophy and Ethics is the discipline of critical thinking. The core skills assessed are knowledge and understanding of religious and philosophical concepts and analysis and evaluation. Students taking A Level Religious Studies develop skills that are transferable to other subjects and learn to analyse other ideas, justify their own and evaluate the validity of theories.

The main topics studied in A-Level Religious Studies are:

Classical arguments for the existence of God; Challenges to the existence of God; Life after death; Religious experience; Religious and ethical language; Ways of making moral decisions; Free will; Application of ethics to topics such as immigration, homosexuality, abortion and nuclear weapons.

Where might it lead

The nature of Religious Studies means that it is valued by many Universities for courses that involve a strong element of critical analysis. Former students have gone on to study PPE, Law, Medicine, Journalism, Theology, Psychology and other social sciences. The routes into employment are many and varied with education, politics and the media all being destinations for students who have followed the above pathways.

Student perspective

“As someone who loves to talk and argue, Philosophy and Ethics has been the perfect subject for me. It has encouraged me to question previously held beliefs formulate informed opinions. Being a completely new discipline it is challenging but it has developed my thinking so that I can apply it in many situations. Discovering ancient and contemporary philosophical thought and ethical theories have broadened my academic horizons”.

Catherine Eadie, graduated summer 2017.

Entrance Criteria

In addition to a minimum of 5 GCSE’s inc Maths and English at grade 5 or above.

Grade 6 in GCSE Philosophy and Ethics.

Assessment Criteria

A Level Religious Studies

• COMPONENT 1 STUDY OF RELIGION 2 hr written paper
• COMPONENT 2 PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION 2 hr written paper
• COMPONENT 3 RELIGIOUS ETHICS 2 hr written paper

Exam Board

Eduqas

Contact details

Miss L Appleton – lan@knutsfordacademy.org.uk Head of Religious Studies

KS5 Humanities Curriculum Maps