Judicial Review - Justice for Health and Junior Doctors' Contract
It's not that often that a really high profile Judical Review case hits the headlines, but there's one today! Justice for Health - a pressure group acting on behalf of the UK's junior doctors - has...
Free course from Parliament about...Parliament!
Here's a cracking opportunity to register for a free FutureLearn course from Parliament, all about Parliament! Brilliant for new politics teachers, and for AS/Year 12 politics students who want to...
BBC Manifesto Tracker
The manifesto tracker from the BBC takes a look at how well the government is keeping its manifesto pledges from the 2015 general election - a great tool for assessing the continued relevance of...
The challenges for Diane James
When considering the differences between pressure groups and political parties, UKIP help to exemplify how an organisation can be both. Their electoral success in terms of vote share in 2015and in...
Politics Quiz of the Week
A huge hat tip to Clive Owen from Minster School in Southwell for sending through his Politics News Quiz. A simple idea but executed well - a screenshot of the BBC News Politics page, followed by...
The many faces of multiculturalism
Looking through the proposed new specs for Politics A level made me think again about my understanding of multiculturalism as an ideology, and reminded me of a great BBC News article from several...
What does the UN do?
I love this series of mini clips from the United Nations outlining real-life examples of their work and intervention. Each clip is between about 2 minutes and 4 minutes in length.
A fun look at political systems
I stumbled across this quirky YouTube video outlining the differences between different ideological / political systems using two cows - a fun little lesson starter.
Darfur is Dying - teaching humanitarian crises
Here's another blog post on using games and simulations to teach Global Politics - this one is a little old now, but the issues highlighted in the Darfur is Dying simulation continue to affect...
How feminism is changing
I've recently read Anne-Marie Slaughter's book Unfinished Business , and I was interested by her comments on how feminism means different things to different women and people from different...
Which is more shocking - Cameron resigning as MP or Mel and Sue leaving the Bake off?
Okay, so the title to this blog may be a little frivolous! I'll declare that I've rarely watched the Great British Bake Off so don't get what the fuss is about with the change in channel and...
The four leadership elections and Michel’s Iron Law of Oligarchy
At the beginning of the 20th Century, Michel argued that all organisations, regardless of how democratic they intend to be, will inevitably be controlled by the few. One of the many ways in which...
BBC simulation for teaching Climate Change in Global Politics
I thought it was worth highlighting this interactive simulation from the BBC - the Climate Change Challenge is a little old now (and the Beeb doesn't update the activity anymore) - but it's still a...
Can working together reduce polarisation of ideologies?
Here's a TED talk suitable for students taking the Ideologies option and the US Politics options at A2. Arthur Brooks suggests that 'working together' can reduce the "ghastly holy war of ideology"...
Using board games to teach Global Politics
I've just come across a series of blog posts from PAXsims that take a look at games you can use in the classroom when teaching Global Politics, particularly the theories and ideologies such as...
Does it matter if politicians don't know the 'important' facts?
You may have seen or heard of the argument that broke out between Labour foreign affairs spokesperson Emily Thornberry and Sky News interviewer Dermot Murnaghan this weekend. A Youtube clip can be...
UCAS Politics Guide
No doubt many colleagues will currently be helping Year 13s through the tricky process of applying to university. Hopefully my latest UCAS Politics Guide will save you lots of time and effort!
Should we temporarily move Parliament to Birmingham?
I know I've blogged about this issue before, but the full costs and proposals for repairing Westminster Palace are starting to emerge this week. The possible cost of refurbishment (due to leakages,...
Getting started on US Politics - red, blue or purple?
Here's another introductory activity you could use with new students of US politics. This lesson idea focuses on which parties dominate (if either!) in various US states.
Join our Politics Teacher group on Facebook
Teaching Politics can be a lonely business - often small departments, with busy teachers also teaching other subjects. When you need some advice, guidance or support, who can you turn to? Here's...