Head of Department
Miss A Scriven
Why choose this A Level?
Sociology attracts students who are interested in current affairs and issues and in the society in which we all live. As with other Social Science A levels, this links in very well with other subjects because the topics covered in the course are very cross-curricular.
Who is eligible?
The syllabus assumes no previous study of Sociology at GCSE. It must be stressed that Sociology is not an “easy option”. It is rigorous, and demands a dedicated and hard-working approach to the course if you are going to succeed.
As well as producing written assignments, you will be expected to read regularly and make relevant notes, take part in class discussions, watch online content and prepare and present some aspect of a topic in class.
It is important to keep abreast of current affairs by regularly accessing news and watching relevant documentaries where appropriate.
Qualification Type: A Level (2 year) or AS Level (1 year)
YEAR ONE:
Family & households
Role and function of the family
Family diversity
Domestic division of
labour
Childhood
Demographics
Sociology of education
Role and function of education
Education policy &
globalisation
Roles and processes in
school
Differential educational achievement
Theory and methods
Sociological perspectives
Research design and methods
Sociological debates
Specification: Year 2023/2025 Advanced Level Award Examination Board: AQA
For info about the AS Level click here
YEAR TWO:
Crime and deviance
Theories of crime and deviance
Social distribution of crime
Crime prevention and control
Globalisation and crime
Beliefs in society
Role & function of religious belief systems
Relationship between social groups &
spiritual movements
Significance of religiosity in
contemporary society
Beliefs in a global context
Paper 1: 80 marks—2 hours
Education with theory and methods.
Paper 2: 80 marks—2 hours
Topic 1: families and
households
Topic 2: Beliefs in society
Paper 3: 80 marks—2 hours
Topic 1: Crime and Deviance
Topic 2: Theory and methods
These qualifications offers an engaging and effective introduction to Sociology. Students will learn the fundamentals of the subject and develop skills valued by higher education (HE) and employers, including critical analysis, independent thinking and research.
This course is commonly studied with:
As an A-Level subject, sociology complements several other A-Level courses, including business, biology, history, politics, psychology, English and economics.
Future Careers:
Banker. Business analyst. Consumer relations specialist. Human resources manager. Market analyst. Merchandiser/purchaser. Project manager. Quality control manager.
Students can study sociology for just one academic year and achieve an AS qualification worth 40% of the UCAS points.
Year 2023/2024 Advanced Subsidiary Award Examination Board: AQA
PAPER 1 Education with Methods in Context The exam paper consists of 2, 2, 6, 10, 20 and 20 mark questions. 1½ hours
PAPER 2 Research Methods and Topics in Sociology The exam paper is in two sections:- Section A is on Research Methods and consists of 4 and 16 mark questions. Section B is on Families and Households and consists of 2, 2, 6, 10 and 20 mark questions. 1½ hours.