Sociology

Introduction

Sociology is the study of the social world around us and how society works. Sociologists ask questions like, Why is the crime rate increasing? How has childhood changed? How do gender and social class affect educational outcomes?

Our A-level studies follow the AQA curriculum and examinations. We focus on sociological theories and research methods, the role of education, families and households, crime and deviance, and a further topic in Sociology that will be determined during the course of 2024-25.

KS5

A level Sociology

Specification Code: 7191, 7192
Level: A level
Examination Board: AQA

Year 12

Curriculum

In Year 12, students will study the following topics:

• Sociological theories and research methods
• Education
• Topic option: Families and households

Assessment

All assessment takes place at the end of Year 13.

Further Resources

The school has a subscription to The Day, an online news service for schools. Click the button to the right, then browse ‘Subjects’ in the top menu to find sociology resources.

Please see below for a number of resources to maximise students’ progress during their Year 12 curriculum.

• SharePoint Glossaries – glossaries of sociological terminology.
• Tutor2U
• TheSociologyTeacher
• Discover Sociology

Year 13

Curriculum

In Year 13, students will study the following topics:

• Sociological theories and research methods
• Crime and deviance
• A further topic option yet to be determined (one of: Global development; the Media; Stratification and differentiation; Beliefs in society)

Assessment

Paper 1: Education with Theory and Methods
Written examination – 2 hours (80 marks), 33.3% of A level

Paper 2: Topics in Sociology
Written examination – 1 hour (80 marks), 33.3% of A level

Paper 3: Crime and Deviance with Theory and Methods
Written examination – 2 hours (80 marks), 33% of A level

Further Resources

The school has a subscription to The Day, an online news service for schools. Click the button to the right, then browse ‘Subjects’ in the top menu to find sociology resources.

Please see below for a number of resources to maximise students’ progress during their Year 12 curriculum.

• SharePoint Glossaries – glossaries of sociological terminology.
• Tutor2U
• TheSociologyTeacher
• Discover Sociology

Extra-curricular

You can find some documentaries you may wish to watch, organised by sociology topic, at this website.

These films and series are helpful portrayals of sociological theories of class, feminism, race and postmodernism:

• ‘The Hate U Give’
• ‘Austenland’
• ‘Hidden Figures’
• BBC’s ‘The Outlaws’

You may also want to:

• Sit in a café and note down the types of groups, families, and couples that come in. What different social groupings do you see?
• Visit the Isleworth Crown Court and watch a case. What crime was involved? Who were the different people in the courtroom? What kind of evidence was relevant?
• Visit the Wandsworth Prison Museum
• Investigate the Karl Marx Walking tours of London.