Sociology is the study of society, focusing on the different social groups to which people belong (e.g. social class, gender, ethnicity, sexuality) and the impact that membership of these groups has on our life chances.

Course content:

Year 12

Firstly, students look at the Families and Households unit, where they study changes in the British family over the last century, focusing on issues such as divorce, childhood and domestic violence. They then develop their understanding by studying the inequalities in the British Education system; namely gender, ethnicity and social class differences in achievement. Students then apply the areas studied to Research Methods, which introduces them to an understanding of how sociologists conduct research.

Year 13

Students will learn about the role of Beliefs in modern society, considering the role and impact of secularisation, fundamentalism and multiculturalism. They will also study Crime and Deviance, where they will research what causes crime, the impact of crime and different solutions to criminal behaviour in society. Theories and Methods will introduce students to the evolution of sociological theories and big debates in the subject.

Assessment criteria:

Sociology is assessed by three 2-hour written exams. There is a combination of short-answer questions and extended essays. There is no coursework.