Politics
Staff
John Whitworth
The Department
Political Studies remains a vibrant and exciting subject and the Department reflects this, offering both A Level and IB courses, backed up with Political Society events and excursions to enhance the learning and understanding of this fascinating area. The A Level course followed is that offered by Edexcel - British Politics at Lower Sixth level and the Politics of the USA (Route C) at Upper Sixth Level. At IB, we follow the World Politics and International Relations course as a Schools-Based-Syllabus at Standard Level in Group Three.
The Political Society
A well-established and active society within Haileybury, the Political Society provides a focus for political awareness and activity among all Politics pupils, plus a number of others who join and participate. Events include the holding of regular Haileybury Assemblies - our internal Mock Parliament - and addresses by outside speakers, who include local Members of Parliament, journalists and commentators. The annual Attlee Memorial Lecture is also held under the auspices of the Society - at which a prominent figure addresses the Combined Sixth Form on the general topic of leadership. We are privileged to have had luminaries such as Harold Wilson, Ted Heath, Roy Jenkins, Michael Howard, Clare Short and Norman Tebbit (amongst a number of others) deliver this prestigious lecture over the years as our special guests. The Society also arranges an annual visit to Parliament for the Lower Sixth Form.
MUN and debating
The Department has close ties with the Model United Nations programme - which has been described as the "jewel in Haileybury's crown". Many pupils who take politics are also active in MUN - attending conferences in Athens, Croydon, Dublin and The Hague, in addition to staging our own mammoth conference at Haileybury at the end of March every year. Debating is also a natural adjunct to the study of politics and the Department supports the Debating Society wholeheartedly.
Contact us
We remain interested in establishing a dialogue beyond the confines of Haileybury and would welcome any comment or contributions from those who read this website. Please e-mail Michael Perrins if you would like any further information on the Department.
