A Level Sociology

“The fascination of sociology lies in the fact that its perspective makes us see in a new light the very world in which we have lived all our lives.”

At St. Augustine's Catholic College, our Sociology curriculum inspires students to be curious and motivated to learn about key issues within British society. By studying the influence of institutions such as education, families, households, the criminal justice system, and religion, students gain a greater understanding of historic and contemporary social, political, and legal changes. Our course is designed to nurture responsible, active citizens who are compassionate, kind, and skilled in critical thinking.

In KS5, students have nine lessons across two weeks and are expected to undertake five hours of independent study per week. Our teaching approach follows the TEEP cycle, ensuring students can construct meaning, apply knowledge, and review their learning throughout the process. Assessments include short-answer questions and extended essays to gauge students' understanding of key concepts and skills.

The curriculum's impact on students includes developing methodological and literacy skills, along with fostering academic resilience in a supportive learning environment. Our approach to spiritual, moral, social, and cultural education encourages students to explore diverse belief systems, evaluate judgments about socio-economic and political issues, and examine how institutions address morality and justice.

Sociology at St. Augustine's aims to develop transferable skills such as self-confidence, effective communication, critical analysis, and an awareness of social, political, and economic conditions. We strive to prepare students for their future lives by nurturing their ability to ask questions, enact change, and serve their communities while promoting greater understanding and tolerance of diversity and inequality.

What will I study?

Unit 1: Education with Theory and Methods

In this unit we explore the possible hidden purposes of education; why different social groups experience school differently; the effects this has on achievement and the strengths and weaknesses of the different ways that sociologists collect their data.

Unit 2: Two Topics in Sociology

Families and Households:

Here we consider the sociology of the family - examine the issues of power and control within relationships; explore Feminist views on how the family continues to be oppressive to women; how childhood has changed and how government tries to subtly interfere in family life.

Beliefs in Society:

In this topic we look at the role of religion and belief in society. We explore different definitions of religion; examine the extent of secularisation; how religion is linked to social change; how religion is changing; how levels of religiosity vary between social groups and what might lead some to join a cult or a religious sect.

Unit 3: Crime and Deviance with Theory and Methods

We look at the patterns and trends in crime and deviance; the role of the media and crime; green crime; human rights and state crimes; crime control, prevention and punishment, victims, and the role of the criminal justice system.

In addition throughout the course we consider sociological theories, perspectives and methods such as Marxism, Feminism and Functionalism and the two core themes:

• socialisation, culture and identity

• social differentiation, power and stratification

All units are examined – there is no coursework.

Who will it suit?

If you are interested in social topics such as fairness and equality, enjoy current affairs or politics; or are interested in finding out more about how society works, about the causes of social problems and their potential solutions; then Sociology could be for you.

The course will help to develop a growing sense of social responsibility with an emphasis on how wider society and world issues influence our relationship with others. You should also have good written communication skills and the ability to both think and work independently.

What can I do with Sociology?

Sociology is an academically demanding subject regarded as an acceptable A Level by universities. A qualification in Sociology can lead to a wide variety of careers such as: Law, the police, teaching, journalism, personnel management, nursing, social work and marketing