A-level results: why politics is the fastest growing subject
This year's A-level results show a significant increase in the number of students choosing to study politics. In fact, politics saw the largest year-on-year increase of all A-level subjects in the UK, with. . .
This year's A-level results show a significant increase in the number of students choosing to study politics. In fact, politics saw the largest year-on-year increase of all A-level subjects in the UK, with entriesup 11. 9%this year compared with 2025. This is an additional2,639 students– up from 22,185 to 24,824. Politics still accounts for only 3% of all A-levels studied across the UK in 2026. This increase comes on the back of increases in demand for over a decade. Politics is one of thefastest-growingA-levels – up 81% in the UK since 2010. Who studies politics?There is an interesting phenomenon going on in terms of who is choosing to study politics. In 2022, the subject marked animportant watershedwhen, for the first time, more women than men studied politics across the UK. A significant change for a historically male-majority subject. The trend of a small female majorityhas continuedyear on year. In 2026, though, the gender split isalmost 50-50. This change in gender demographics over time is quite distinct fromthe trajectoryof many other social science subjects. Psychology has remained strongly female-majority, while economics and business studies are male-majority subjects. For young women, there may be several distinct factors at play. First, increased interest may be linked to recent changes to the A-level syllabus. A studyfound that young women placed greater importance than young men on topics such as human rights, elections and voting, climate change and inequality. These are all topics that feature in the revised 2017 politics syllabus, which covers a wider range of political ideas and global issues than previously. In addition – while somewhat harder to assess – it seems that social media is playing a role in enabling greater engagement and awareness of political issues and debates among young women. This may bebecause online debates about issues that resonate with young women, including women's rights, may be encouraging interest in politics. This would chime withresearch showingthat traditional classroom discussions are less effective in developing "political self-efficacy" (how much a person believes in their ability to understand and make change through politics) among girls than boys aged 11-16. This suggests that factors outside the classroom, such as social media, may be fuelling increased interest. Why are teens choosing politics?According to theBritish Academy, students taking A-level politics in England tend to come from wealthier families compared with the norm for A-level students. Historically, A-level politics has been a popular, and widely offered, subject at private schools. Yetrecent data showsthat the number of state-funded schools in England offering A-level politics has risen. More state-funded sixth forms and secondary schools offering the subject suggest that greater accessibility may be a factor in the rise in uptake. There are most likely multiple reasons for the rise in demand for the politics A-level over the last 15 years. Factors such as ongoing global conflicts, climate change and the increased volatility of national politics, such as the UK's six prime ministers in the last decade, have increased interest in and the desire to understand how we are governed and what triggers global political change. The proposedlowering of the voting ageto 16 may also have prompted increased interest in the subject among teenagers. Research suggeststhat young people care deeply about social and political issues and that they are increasingly keen to understand the systems that affect their lives. The growing popularity of politics A-level may reflect a generation that recognises that political literacy is no longer simply an advantage, but an essential part of active citizenship. But there is still more work to do to ensure that this growing demand is met. Arecent reportby the Electoral Commission found that 72% of young people believe schools and colleges should do more to teach politics, democracy and voting. The challenge for politicians is to turn young people's growing interest in politics into meaningful political participation. In thelast general electiononly 40% of 18–24-year-olds voted, and just 20% of those were from lower socioeconomic groups. Parties that engage young people on issues they care about and involve them between elections are likely to be rewarded. Ultimately, politicians must move from speaking to young people to working with them. Young people are not disengaged from politics but increasingly interested in understanding it. The challenge is to build on this interest, to create opportunities for young people from all backgrounds to pursue political studies education at school and university. It also means finding more diverse ways to support all young people to engage with and participate in politics. This article is republished fromThe Conversationunder a Creative Commons license. Read theoriginal article. Rose Gann is affiliated with the Political Studies Association of the UK. Ana Isabel Nunes does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.