Government and Politics

Upcoming Events

Year 12 Politics Conference to London Thursday 27th November 2008
This great all day conference in London allows the Year 12 students to hear from a wide range of leading politicians.  Past speakers have included Tony Benn, Lembit Opik MP, Alan Duncan MP, George Galloway MP, Kenneth Clarke MP, Hazel Blears MP and Charles Kennedy MP.


Year 12 and 13 Politics and Economics trip to Brussels and Frankfurt Sunday 14th December to Saturday 20th December 2008:
This fantastic trip is available for the current Years 11 and 12 going into Years 12 and 13 in the autumn.  It should include Politics visits to the European Parliament, the Council of Ministers, the European Commission, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, as well as a range of Economics visits.  There may be a couple of spare places still available so please contact me if you are interested.


Year 13 European Union Conference to London January 2009: (To be confirmed)
This planned trip to London would involve the Year 13 listening to a wide variety of leading politicians and experts on topical issues in the European Union such as the Lisbon Treaty.


Year 12 and 13 Politics and Economics trip to Strasbourg and Luxembourg Sunday 13th December to Friday 18th December 2009:
This exciting opportunity will be available in December 2009 for the current Year 10 and 11 going into Year 11 and 12 in the autumn.  It should include Politics visits to the European Court of Human Rights and the Council of Europe, (both non-EU institutions), and the European Parliament in Strasbourg and the European Court of Justice, Court of First Instance and the European Court of Auditors in Luxembourg as well as a range of Economics visits.  This trip will be formally advertised in September 2008 as bookings of hotels need to be arranged well in advance.

 

Events

Politics and Economics trip to Luxembourg, Strasbourg and Brussels December 2007

This was a very enjoyable and useful trip that 20 Year 12 and 13 Politics and Economics students went on in December after the end of term.  Braving freezing temperatures, we visited the European Court of Justice where we had a very informed talk about this important European Union institution.  There then followed a very thorough discussion about the role of the European Court of Auditors, also in Luxembourg.

At the European Court of Justice

In Strasbourg we visited two non-European Union institutions, the Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights.  There we engaged in a fascinating discussion with a human rights lawyer about immigration cases involving the UK government.

At the European Court of Human Rights

“This talk (at the European Court of Human Rights) has really convinced me I want to do something to do with Politics for a career.” – A Year 13 student.

In Brussels we had a very lively talk and debate with a representative of UKIP about the European Parliament.  This sparked a heated discussion for many hours afterwards, as well as some of the sharpest questioning of the entire trip.

“The best school trip I’ve ever been on – I had a fantastic time.  It’s really helped my understanding of EU institutions and the economics visits were also useful for the related element on our course.”  A Year 13 Politics student.

Thanks go to Miss Pallas-Brown for giving up a week of her holiday to come on the trip.

 

Politics Conference to London - Monday 3rd December

The Year 12 Politics students experienced a great series of politicians speaking at a conference in London.  This included George Galloway MP who was very controversial, Lembit Opik MP and Don Foster MP who spoke from a Lib Dem perspective in a humorous way.  Also there were Tony Benn and Margaret Beckett MP from the Labour Party speaking about Parliament and Gordon Brown’s government.  From the Conservatives, Theresa May and Oliver Letwin discussed the prospects for David Cameron’s Conservatives.


Mock Election Thursday 18th October

In a closely fought contest Lucy Jeczalik of the Conservative Party won the school’s annual mock election by 4 votes from Lucy Arora from the Green Party.  Just behind were Sophie Hollows of the Liberal Democrats and Lydia Nicola representing the Labour Party.  Thanks go to all of the candidates for a lively campaign.


Politics/Economics trip to Brussels – 17th to 22nd December 2006

Twenty Year 12 and Year 13 Politics and Economics students spent a fascinating five days in Brussels on a joint Politics and Economics trip after the end of term. The students’ first visit was to the European Economic and Social Committee where they had the structure of the European Union effectively outlined. Following this was a lively debate at the Committee of the Regions led by an ex-Sun journalist. The students engaged in a no-holds-barred discussion. The European Commission visit overran because of the high quality of the discussion with our German administrator. The prospects for the revival of the European Constitution under the German six-month Presidency of the European Union were debated – you heard it here first.

Later that day was a first-rate visit to the European Parliament. They were met and lectured to by a senior member of the visitor service who was hugely impressed with their knowledge of European Union enlargement. They were then met by Sharon Bowles MEP to whom we are very grateful for sponsoring our visit to the European Parliament.

Overall, this was a hugely successful trip. Particular thanks go to Mrs Burdett for giving up her holiday and to the Belgians for their endless supply of waffles and chocolate.

Mock Election – Thursday 19th October 2006

The Mock election on Open Evening was a lively event and had a very high turnout despite only three candidates being represented this year. The result was as follows:

Julia Fairbank
Katherine Richards
Emma Robinson 		Conservative
Labour
Liberal Democrat 		95 votes
35 votes
158 votes

And Emma Robinson was elected.

Many thanks to all of those involved.

Politics Conference – Monday 4th December 2006

The Politics students attended a packed Politics conference in London in December. Speakers included; Jack Straw MP, David Willetts MP, Lembit Opik MP, George Galloway MP, Hazel Blears MP, Vince Cable MP, Alan Duncan MP and Charles Kennedy MP. The Question and Answer sessions were topical and full of interest. Thanks go to Miss Stewart from the Modern Languages department for accompanying the Year 12 and 13 students.

Politics Society meeting with Dr. Evan Harris MP - September 2006

Oxford High School’s Politics society had a lively meeting with Liberal Democrat MP Dr. Evan Harris on the 14th September. He spoke effectively on the future direction of the National Health Service including his view of rational rationing. There followed an in-depth discussion on issues as diverse as drug trials and how patients should be prioritised. Many thanks to Dr. Evan Harris for his talk that was very well attended by students.

 

Formation of the Oxford High School Politics Society

The Year 12 Politics group at Oxford High School have formed a Politics Society dedicated to inviting a range of Politics speakers into the school. This formalises a system where many local politicians including the four main candidates In Oxford West and Abingdon constituency have been invited into school. The inaugural speaker at Oxford High School’s Politics society is Lembit Opik MP, speaking on “Future prospects for Northern Ireland” on Thursday 22nd June. A range of exciting speakers is planned over the coming months.

Lembit Opik MP had to cancel the first meeting of the newly formed Politics Society because of commitments at the House of Commons. Hopefully he will be able to come back soon. In the meantime, high profile local politicians are planed soon.


Year 13 Politics Conference Tuesday - 7th March 2006

This was an excellent conference in London which the Year 13 Politics students attended. Led by Eric Magee, Deborah Outhwaite and Richard Kelly, they covered topics on, the UK economy, law and order, European co-operation and integration, race and ethnicity, EU political systems, the welfare state, EU policy areas and Northern Ireland.


Politics Conference to London - 5th December 2005

This was an exciting conference to London attended by the Year 12 and Year 13 students. There were seven high profile speakers consisting of;


The Good Schools Guide A Level Awards

Oxford High School recently received an award presented by “The Good Schools Guide” as the Best Independent School for Girls for Government and Politics at AS Level

Warmest congratulations to Head of Politics Department Mr M Gallacher and his students.



Personnel

One member of staff is involved in the teaching of Government and Politics who teaches seven lessons in Year 12 and seven lessons in Year 13. Government and Politics is only taught in the sixth form. The Head of Government and Politics also is Head of Economics.

Current staff:
Mr. M. W. Gallacher
MA Hons Oxon in Politics and Economics


Facilities and Resources

Government and Politics is available in the sixth form at AS and A2 level. Everyone at Oxford High School is studying the subject for the first time. It offers girls the opportunity to explore topical issues in UK and EU Politics. Girls are encouraged to use Politics Review articles, a magazine written for A level students to develop and consolidate their understanding. The girls are encouraged to read quality newspapers regularly and to watch political television programmes such as Newsnight, Breakfast with Frost, The Politics Show and Jonathan Dimbleby as well as Panorama and Channel Four News... Websites are available and catalogued by topic.

Textbooks and other Government and Politics material are stored either in the Politics stock cupboard or in Room S5 depending on the nature of the material. The Government and Politics department has access to a TV/ video recorder in the sixth form block which is stored in the Government and Politics/Maths stock cupboard. Videos are stored in the stock cupboard. Politics Review articles are stored by date with an easy filing system by topic in the library along with a copy of all Politics Review lists and essay titles on each topic and a well-stocked selection of library books. Past Papers are stored in the Politics stock cupboard.

Numbers fluctuate in Government and Politics, although approximately ten to twelve study the Edexcel Examination Board on average each year after the introduction of a full A level introduced from September 2004. Previously a 2 year AS course had been in operation for 5 years. All girls are taught by year though they are encouraged to integrate through such means as regular lectures at Oxford University on an occasional basis.

Debating students


Curriculum

Year 12 Syllabus:
Introduction to UK politics
Electoral Systems and Elections
Electoral reform
Referendums
Pressure Groups
Political Parties
Legislative Branch
Constitutional Reform
UK Constitution
Prime Minister and Cabinet
Ministers and Civil Servants
Judiciary
Unity of the UK
Europe


Year 13 Syllabus:
The economy since 1979
Welfare State
Social Security
Education
Health
Housing
Law and Order
Race and Racism
Northern Ireland
Development of European Integration
EU Government and political institutions
EU policy areas
Synoptic issues


Events 2003/2004

Visit to the Houses of Parliament (February 2003)

Year 12 and Year 13 Politics students went to the Houses of Parliament. They had a guided tour of the House of Lords, watched Prime Minister’s Question Time and then attended a debate in the House of Commons. Thanks go to Evan Harris MP for arranging the visit.

Visit to the Houses of Parliament
Visit to the Houses of Parliament February 2003


Trip to Brussels (April 2003)

This involved a visit to the European Parliament, the European Commission and the Council of Ministers that was a unique opportunity to see how a variety of European institutions operate.

The Council of Ministers in Brussels
Visit to the Council of Ministers in Brussels April 2003


Nairne Lecture at St. Catherine’s College, Oxford (October 2003)

13 AS and A2 Government and Politics students went to the fifth annual Nairne Lecture at St. Catherine’s College, Oxford on the topic of Europe given by Peter Mandelson, followed by a Question and Answer session chaired by Lord Plant of Highfield. (Copy of the poster enclosed)


Visit from Andrew Smith MP (November 2003)

Andrew Smith MP (Cabinet Minister responsible for Work and Pensions, at the time) came to speak to all of Years 12 and 13. Enclosed is a copy of the introduction to the visit and the questions that the students in Year 12 and 13 prepared as part of their PSHCE lessons the week before. This was part of the Citizenship programme delivered in PSHCE in conjunction with the Politics department.


Lectures on Constitutional change at Oxford University (2003/2004)

The AS and A2 students went to a series of lectures after school on Constitutional changes including:


Lectures on Constitutional change at Oxford University (2004)

Further lectures have taken place this year including:


Mock Election (October 2004)

A school Mock Election took place on the school’s Open Evening:
The result was as follows:

Lib Dems 71
Conservative 53
Green Party 51
Labour 39
UKIP 33


Visit of the Prime Minister of Malaysia 1st October 2004 to Oxford

This was an exciting opportunity to hear the Prime Minister of Malaysia, The Hon Dato Seri Abdullah Badawi on the subject of Malaysia, Islam and the Wider World.


Year 12 Government and Politics conference to London (November 22nd 2004)

The Year 12 Politics students attended a series of talks and question and answer sessions that were lively and extremely topical.
Speakers included:


Joint Politics/Economics trip to Brussels (December 2004)

This was an opportunity to visit the European Parliament, the Council of Ministers and the European Commission and to see how these institutions work. This was of particular benefit to those students doing A2 Politics as well as those doing the AS course.

The students were able to discuss the diverse roles of the European Commission in one of their seminar rooms.

At the European Comission
Visit to the European Commission

The visits included a tour around the European Parliament, the largest multi-national Parliament in the world representing 450 million citizens and 25 countries.

At the European Parliament
Visit to the European Parliament

Finally, the students were able to discuss the functions of the Council of Ministers where Member States of the European legislate.

Students visiting the Council of Ministers
Visit to the Council of Ministers