Sociology
Why Study Sociology?
Sociology helps you make sense of the world around you, how society is structured and how it affects people’s lives. You will learn about social institutions (such as education, family, and the criminal justice system) and how they influence individuals and groups.
By studying Sociology, you will be encouraged to question assumptions, challenge stereotypes, and think analytically about social issues. You will gain the skills to evaluate evidence and arguments, which are useful across many subjects and real-world situations.
You will explore a range of social issues, with topics such as inequality, crime, gender, race, and class being central to the subject. Sociology can help you better understand current events, political debates, and social justice movements.
It also shows how our lives are shaped by social force, not just personal choices. You will investigate how identity, opportunities, and outcomes are influenced by factors like ethnicity, gender, and social class.
What Content Is Studied?
We follow the AQA GCSE Sociology syllabus. The course is structured around key sociological topics that help students understand how society works:
- The Sociological Approach – Learn what sociology is, explore key concepts like norms and values, and understand how society influences behaviour. You will also study how sociologists research social issues using different methods.
- Families – Explore different types of families and how they’ve changed over time. Learn about marriage, divorce, and how family life is shaped by social factors and government policies.
- Education – Understand the role of education in society and why students from different backgrounds perform differently. Examine how schools operate and how educational policies impact outcomes.
- Crime and Deviance – Study why people commit crimes and how society defines and responds to deviant behaviour. You will explore patterns of crime based on age, gender, class, and ethnicity.
- Sociological Research Methods – Discover how sociologists collect and analyse data through surveys, interviews, and observations. You will evaluate the strengths and limitations of different research methods.
- Social Stratification – Learn how society is divided by class, status, and power. Explore inequality, poverty, life chances, and how institutions like the government influence social structure.
How Are Students Assessed?
These topics are assessed through two exam papers, each worth 50% of the final grade:
- Paper 1: Families, Education & Research Methods
- Paper 2: Crime and Deviance, Social Stratification & Research Methods
Each paper is 1 hour 45 minutes long and worth 100 marks.
