Courses / Sociology
Sociology
Have you ever wondered why young people tend to join youth cultures, why overall girls achieve far better exam results than boys, or why the police tend to target young rather than older people? If you have then Sociology might well be the subject for you. This course aims to arm students with the knowledge they need to give them a deeper and more critical appreciation of contemporary societies. In basic terms, this subject will help you to understand the world you live in, and why you experience society in the way that you do.
If you choose this course you would benefit from:
- Experienced teachers who specialise in sociology
- Guest lecturers from local universities.
- Trips to apply sociology to society outside of the classroom, including trips to experience sociology in a university environment.
- Competitions within the classroom, rewarding high quality work.
In the first year you will study:
Education
Families and households
Research methods
Research methods in the context of education
In the second year you will study:
Crime and deviance
Beliefs in society
Social theory
What will I be taught?
This course will be delivered through a dynamic mix of both teacher and student let activities. These activities will include an element of flipped learning, where students will be expected to complete prior reading or activities before carrying out classroom tasks based on these topics.in addition to this there will be opportunity for discussion and debate in the classroom as we tackle some of the key social issues of the day. We will also make use of online resources such as Microsoft Teams, and interactive Kahoot quizzes. We will also teach you the skills to evaluate social theory and current events, seeing past the common sense explanations we usually use to explain these issues.
Classroom activities will include:
- Multiple choice tests
- Essay based assessments
- Interactive online quizzes
- Group work
- Student led sessions
Based on research into how students learn best, each subject will set independent work to allow you to recap what you have done in the past, consolidate understanding for what you are studying in the present and develop the skills and experiences which will help you for the future. You can read more about the college’s approach to independent study here
The Past
Click here for the suggested ongoing revision activities in this subject which research has shown are most likely to boost your achievement
The Present
Each subject will set weekly homework tasks to help you consolidate your understanding and prepare for your next lesson. This work is typically set through Microsoft Teams, so you will have an electronic log of all your work, notes and feedback.
The Future
A key part of your independent work in this subject will be to prepare for a range of potential jobs and higher education courses when you leave us. To get started, look below at the top higher education courses and jobs which previous students of this course have gone on to do.
As part of a wider programme this course provides an excellent basis for progression to many careers or university courses. Former students of this college have gone on to study many academic subjects at degree level including: Sociology, Criminology, Law, Education, Psychology and Social work. Other more unconventional routes for progression for our former students have been nursing and midwifery, with Sociology providing an insight into the various cultures which our students have gone on to care for. Additionally many of our students are now finding success in both employment and on apprenticeships with a range of national companies.
5 x GCSE grades 4-9 (incl. English Language)
Additional Requirements
5 in English Language
Not essential but it will help your success…
An interest in current affairs and key debates in society such as the BLM movement as well as wider movements for equal rights. Additionally, a commitment to learn to think critically about society, looking beyond common sense explanations.
Essay writing skills are also useful as these are a key part of the assessment in this subject.
Pairs well with other social science subjects such as Psychology, Philosophy and ethics, Law, Criminology, and Health and Social Care.
Teaching contact time is 4 hours and 20 minutes per subject. Other workshops will be available throughout the year. Students are expected to complete up to 4 hours of independent study to complete assignments, homework, extra reading and independent research.
100% exam
3 exams:
Paper 1: Education with theory and methods 80 marks: 33%
Paper 2: Topics in Sociology (Family and households, and Beliefs in society) 80 marks: 33%
Paper 3: Crime and Deviance with Theory and Methods 80 marks: 33%