GCSE sociology introduces students to ‘big ideas’ and we try as far as possible, to make links to the contemporary world. We begin with a two-week introduction to core sociological themes including socialisation and nature/nurture debate. We start with the Families topic as this is the most straightforward and provides a more detailed insight into the socialisation process and roles. There is also the opportunity to include a global context to family life which students enjoy learning about. The key theories of functionalism, Marxism and feminism are introduced, and we start to develop evaluation skills by comparing these perspectives. Exam skills are carefully scaffolded with a focus on the exam questions to build confidence and develop knowledge and understanding.

In the second term we cover Education and incorporate research methods as it is assessed in a synoptic way. This enables students to understand how sociologists carry out their research and they can make links to the key studies they need to know. In the summer term, we return to research methods and students are given the opportunity to do their own small-scale pilot studies.

At the end of Year 10 students sit a complete GCSE exam, Paper 1. In Year 11 we start with Crime and Deviance and finish with Social Stratification. All components are supported with knowledge organisers and key study booklets. Homework is carefully planned and includes learning key terms for fortnightly tests and essay writing practice. Students sit a summative assessment once a half term.  

A Level sociology is a popular course with many of our GCSE students choosing to continue to study it at A Level. Those that are completely new to the subject need not worry as all content is taught from scratch and core knowledge is embedded in fortnightly key terms tests. Unlike the GCSE, the classes are shared between two teachers, with one taking responsibility for the Culture and Identity component and the other for Education, whilst Theory and Methods is shared between the two in the Spring and Summer terms.

Culture and Identity offers a sound introduction to core sociological debates around structure versus action, modernity and postmodernity and the impact of globalisation on societies. Students are engaged with gender and ethnic identities and how these are changing. During this first term we also cover A Level study skills and embed wider reading through a range of super-curricular activities and external academic speakers through our ties with London universities. In the summer term, students carry out their own pilot study on an education-related question to tie in with Methods in Context question on Paper 1. This not only helps to embed a more sophisticated understanding of research methods but also provides evidence of independent work for their UCAS personal statements. Year 12 exams take place in February and June and will include a mixture of Paper 1 and 2 topics. In the summer term we return to Theory and Methods.

In Year 13 we teach the compulsory topic Crime and Deviance for Paper 3 and Beliefs in Society for Paper 2. Each teacher takes responsibility for one topic, and we aim to complete all content before Easter. However, this is flexible as we also do some interleaving of Year 12 revision at certain points of the year. These topics can be challenging as they are more theoretical which is why we do the complex elements of Theory and Methods at the end of Year 12.

Students enjoy both topics and many students go on to choose sociology or criminology and social anthropology at university. The same rigour in homework applies to Year 13 and our students usually complete one timed essay a week which helps to build confidence in exam skills.