This year, New Hall School introduced Politics to Year 10 students for the very first time. The opportunity to study Politics in a certified course at this age is important in our aim to provide a 21st century education, allowing students to become informed, active citizens, aware of the local, national and international challenges and issues society is facing today.

The Year 10 AQA Unit Award Scheme (UAS) Politics course introduces key political ideas relevant to young people, providing an opportunity for assessments through active participation, with AQA certificates awarded half-termly. Students engage in activities and use a variety of media to discuss and debate politics both in the UK and globally, covering topics such as law, media, democracy, terrorism, human rights, equality, as well as political parties, elections and campaigns.

Designed to be accessible for all students, the course allows them to influence the content of lessons to cover their individual areas of interest. Students have said that the skillset developed in lessons is useful in independently investigating contemporary issues, enhancing their knowledge, and informing their opinion when discussing challenging topics.

Following a short certificate presentation to the many who have achieved Distinctions in the first assessment, some of them practised their newly acquired debating and public speaking skills in a New Hall Question Time debate with fellow Years 7-12 students. Engaging in a fierce debate, students discussed the implications, potential benefits and issues in lowering the voting age to sixteen in England. The majority of our young politicians understandably voted to lower the voting age, so that they may actively participate in their country’s politics as they do in decisions made at New Hall through Student Voice, Prefect roles, clubs and councils.

For more content, follow @newhallpolitics on Instagram. In the words of the New Hall Politics Department – #StartLifeStartYoungStartPolitics.