Mr Carl Gladwell -  Head of Department & Communications / Diversity / Covid 19 Whole School Brief
email: carl.gladwell@stcatherines.info
Studied History and Politics at Queen Mary & Westfield College, University of London. He has been at the school since 2005 and enjoys thoroughly the way that St Cat’s girls who study Politics are passionate about, and fascinated by, their subject. He is particularly interested in the way that political ideas shape societies, both historically in respect of totalitarian states under dictators such as Hitler and Stalin, and during the current day with the rise of religious fundamentalism. In his life outside school he plays bass guitar in a very loud rock band, cheers (but mostly groans) at the footballing exploits of Arsenal, and enjoys being a master chef in his own kitchen.

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Miss Gianella Negrotti - Politics teacher / Head of Department - History
email:gianella.negrotti@stcatherines.info
Joined St Catherine’s September 2024. Gianella has been a Head of History and Humanities and Assistant Headteacher at previous schools.  She studied History at University where she focused on German and United States history, nineteenth century British politics and the Holocaust.  As part of her MA, she aligned her passion for the academic subject of History with that of her interest in educational research, to develop a better understanding of how students can learn from the subject.  While initially a more enthusiastic historian of Modern History, Gianella has more recently enjoyed teaching and reading more about the reign of Elizabeth I.  As a historian she loves making connections between the past and the present, and as a history teacher recognises the importance of the subject in providing students with the skills to navigate the excess of information available in the modern world.  Reading, theatre and travel are what occupies her spare time.

Examination Board: Edexcel

Specification

Why study Politics & International Relations?

The world is a complex place with problems that cross borders. Here in the UK we continue to deal with our budget deficit, and this means that difficult decisions are being made on issues like university tuition fees, health, and welfare. The UK has voted to leave the EU and has major implications for the future of Northern Ireland and Scotland respectively. The Politics course will deepen your understanding of these major issues and how we can have an influence upon them. The course also looks at more global aspects of politics such as security, human rights, and relations between the major powers. We also consider how much power politicians should have over us and whether our society can do things better. Girls at St. Catherine’s do extremely well in their Politics examinations and achieve excellent results.

Course Content

In the first year we look at politics in the UK and how it is constantly changing. After a period of considerable instability under a succession of Conservative prime ministers, Labour now has a dominant majority in the House of Commons following the July 2024 General Election. Sir Keir Starmer faces several significant challenges, however, and the ‘honeymoon period’ of his election victory will not last long. We will investigate these challenges and assess his government’s success in dealing with them.  We will also consider where the Conservatives go from here, what the effects of Reform might be in the longer term, and what future there is for independence for Scotland. We look at questions such as these, together with investigating how the system is supposed to work. You are offered different interpretations of what is happening and you will make up your own mind. We don’t tell you what to think but we do give you lots of things to think about.

The second year is split into two sections and so feels very much like a university modular course. The first section focuses on political ideas that get to the essence of what politics is about – what sort of society do we want to live in? We look at four ideas in our search for answers and ask ‘where do we go from here?’ The second section of Year Two addresses some of the great global political issues of our time. Can global institutions such as the UN manage crises to do with security, pandemics, or climate change? Is the world capable of working together or will national self-interest get in the way? With the rise of China and India, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, how does the world look in time of increasing uncertainty? Both sections contain ideas and concepts which will challenge the way that you think about the world in which you live.

Assessment

• A Level: Three papers, each 2 hours
• Coursework Requirements: None

The Media
BBC Daily Telegraph The Guardian The Independent The Economist	The New Statesman Sky News The Spectator The Times
A - Z
African Union Association of Southeast Asian Nations BBC News Service British Monarchy Cabinet Office Commonwealth of Nations Conservative Party Downing Street Electoral Commission Electoral Reform European Union Foreign Office Headsup Home Office Houses of Parliament	Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change International Monetary Fund Labour Party Liberal Democrats NATO Northern Ireland Government Prime Minister’s Office Scotland Government Treasury Office UK Politics United Nations Wales Government World Bank World Trade Organization