In Year 12: Pupils study culture & identity, the family, research methods and the sociology of education.  Pupils will explore the idea of socialisation and start to understand how it helps to shape our identities.  They will also study recent trends in family life and explain reasons for the changing nature of families in contemporary British society.  The latter part of the year is spent studying research methods and education.  Reasons behind differences in educational attainment are studied as are the different ways that sociological data is collected.  Mature pupils who enjoy studying issues that affect people in society usually do well in Sociology.  The course involves a great deal of reading and essay writing. The study of Sociology at GCSE level is an advantage but not essential.
In Year 13: Two units are studied.  The first concerns the different sociological perspectives on the reasons for crime- including Functionalism and Marxism.  The second looks at evidence of inequality in modern Britain in terms of class, gender and race and an evaluation of perspectives on this.  This unit also includes a consolidation of knowledge of research methods from Year 12.

Why Study A Level Sociology
Sociology is an interesting subject that allows learners to look at the world that surrounds them.  Learners have the opportunity to develop an understanding of British society as well as opportunities to learn about sociological methods and research. The topics can be used to support vocational studies such as health and social care, nursing and social work. The course is also a suitable foundation for the study of sociology or a related area of higher education courses such as criminology or law.

Strong Subject Combinations
Business
English Literature
Health & Social Care
History
Law
Psychology

Possible Further Study and Degree Courses
Criminology
Communications
Education
Law
Media
Sociology