Politics

Fettes has offered Politics as a Sixth Form subject since 1990 and the Politics department prides itself on its commitment to high standards with 45% of pupils achieving A grades, during that time, and 75% receiving A or B.

Why study Politics?

Politics is the education we receive, the jobs we do, the taxes we pay and the health care we receive. However indifferent we may be towards politics, few of us can escape it and thus there are sound practical as well as educational reasons for studying it. The new OCR Government and Politics AS and A GCE courses provide an interesting study of the British political system looking at such topics as electoral systems, voting behaviour, the role of political parties and pressure groups, the relationship between politicians and the press, the powers of the prime minister, the relationship between government and Parliament and between Britain and the EU.

In a modular exam, there are three units for the AS - two devoted to documentary work and one essay based. Those who continue onto A2 Level will then have the chance to study the politics of the USA, in particular the role of political parties and interest groups, presidential elections, the checks and balances of its constitution and the respective powers of the presidency, the Congress and the Supreme Court. Two essay based papers are featured on this section of the course along with a Coursework Essay of about 2,000 words on a subject of the candidates choice within the broad confines of the syllabus. These three units comprise 50% of the overall marks compared to the 45% in the AS section.

The course aims to develop a critical awareness of the nature of politics and the relationship between ideas and institutions and government and people, to develop knowledge of the UK and American political systems, to develop a knowledge of the EU and how its decisions affect Britain as well as encouraging pupils to develop their critical thinking and appreciate the hard choices often confronting those in government away from the slick slogans and promises often made in public. Those who enjoy reading newspapers and exchanging ideas will be especially stimulated by the course.

The Political Society

In addition to classroom teaching and visits to the Scottish Parliament, Fettes runs a thriving political society which invites a broad range of speakers from right across the political spectrum to address the school and engage in informal discussion with senior pupils over dinner afterwards. During the course of the last decade speakers have included John Smith, Tony Blair, Malcolm Rifkind, Michael Forsyth, Sir David Steel and General John de Chastelain. Recent speakers are given on the news pages.