On Monday 3rd November, our Year 13 Politics students attended the US Politics Today conference at the British Library – an event designed to bring the realities of American government and politics to life. This unique academic experience featured two distinguished guests: The Hon. Jeff Duncan (Republican, South Carolina) and The Hon. Mike Ross (Democrat, Arkansas), both former Members of the U.S. Congress.
Throughout the day, students explored key topics from their A-Level Politics curriculum, including party balance in Washington, the powers of Congress, the presidency, and the role of the U.S. Supreme Court. These sessions were led by leading academics and enriched by the insights of the Congressmen, who shared first-hand perspectives on legislative processes, checks and balances, and the challenges of governing in a polarized political climate.
A highlight of the day came when Muhammad, one of our Year 13 students, posed a thoughtful question to the Congressmen: “Does the appointment process to the U.S. Supreme Court need reform?” This sparked a lively discussion about judicial independence, ethics, and the implications of lifetime appointments – issues that directly connect to the Comparative Politics component of the A-Level course.
The conference was not only an invaluable extension of classroom learning but also excellent preparation for university-level study. Students engaged critically with complex constitutional debates, interacted with academics, and gained a deeper understanding of how theory translates into practice.
Mr Coward said: “we are proud of our students for representing Ark Pioneer so well and for making the most of this exceptional opportunity to learn firsthand from American politicians”.
Mr Charachon said: “the students’ engagement in this event really supported their study of comparative politics and is such an excellent preparation for university study, with experienced lecturers delivering fascinating insights into US Politics.”