Sociology
In Key Stage 4, students begin to see society through a critical and analytical lens. In Year 10, they explore how culture, identity and socialisation shape people’s lives, before examining families, education and the ways inequality is created and maintained across class, gender and ethnicity. They also develop core research skills, learning how sociologists gather and evaluate evidence. In Year 11, students deepen their understanding of power, poverty and social stratification, alongside detailed study of crime, deviance and the role of the media in shaping public perception. Throughout the course, students refine extended writing, comparison of theories and evaluation of evidence. By the end of Year 11, they are able to interpret society critically and understand how social structures influence opportunity, behaviour and life chances.
In Key Stage 5, Sociology becomes a sophisticated exploration of social theory, inequality and change. In Year 12, students study families, households and education through perspectives such as Functionalism, Marxism, Feminism and Interactionism, while developing strong research and analytical skills. They examine how social class, gender and ethnicity shape educational achievement and life experiences, and learn to construct well-reasoned sociological arguments. In Year 13, learning expands into crime and deviance, globalisation, media, and debates about whether sociology itself can be considered a science. Students evaluate competing theories, apply evidence to unfamiliar contexts and master extended analytical writing. By the end of the course, they leave as confident critical thinkers, prepared for university study and careers in fields such as law, social policy, education and public service.