High Street, Tonbridge,
Kent, TN9 1JP
Politics at Tonbridge is studied in the sixth form, following the Edexcel course for A-level. It is a popular subject, with approximately 40 students studying it in each of the Lower Sixth and Upper Sixth years. There are normally four sets in each year group.
In the Lower Sixth year, students study two modules. The first of these examines the nature of politics in the UK, and includes the following four topics: the quality of democracy and proposals for its reform, electoral systems, political parties and pressure groups. The second module examines our system of government, and includes the following four topics: the British Constitution and proposals for its reform, Parliament, the Prime Minister and Cabinet, and the judiciary.
In the Upper Sixth, attention shifts to the US political system. The course includes an examination of the continued impact of racial divisions on US politics, and requires students to appreciate how political issues can be analysed from different ideological perspectives. The course sits very nicely alongside the A2 History course, which examines the civil rights struggle in nineteenth century America.
Results in recent years have been excellent, with more than 90% of students achieving an A grade at both AS and A2 level in 2008. In that year, one student was placed amongst the top ten students nationally.
A political discussion group meets fortnightly, discussing issues as varied as the role of religion in politics, the nature of the UK's relationship with the EU and the military strategy in Afghanistan.
Students within the Department produce a fortnightly newsletter – ‘Propaganda’ – and lead seminar sessions in extension classes.
The Department runs an annual, ten-day trip in the October half-term to the United States of America - visiting New York City and Washington DC. The Programme is tailored to suit the Department's students, with visits including Congress, national pressure groups (such as the NRA), the Federal Reserve, the World Bank, investment banks (such as CSFB) and multi-national businesses (such as Toys R Us). There are also a regular trips to Parliament, and to conferences and plays in London.
There is a well-supported Politics Society which welcomes speakers to the school. Recent speakers have included Michael Portillo, Nigel Farage, Iain Dale, John Bercow and Lord Nicholls.
Well over one-third of Politics students continue with the subject in some form at university, often as part of a combined honours programme. Several students continue to Oxbridge, with candidates being accepted onto the PPS course at Cambridge (previously SPS), and onto the PPE and History and Politics courses at Oxford.