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Sociology

Sociology is an exciting, challenging and immensely enjoyable A-level subject. Studying sociology requires you to see the world in an entirely unique way. Sociology is meant to upset all our preconceptions and our narrow, partial views, and to encourage us to challenge ideas. Through Sociology you will be encouraged to analyse human behaviour, to understand the influences of gender, and to investigate topics such as The Family, Education, Criminology, Belief Systems and Research Methods.

Sociology offers exciting teaching, plenty of discussion and excellent examination results.  Sociology is highly regarded by universities and colleges. Sociology is accepted by universities for a wide range of courses, from medicine, law and personnel management to journalism, academic and market research and sports science. In recent years A-level Sociology students have gone on to study at many leading universities, including Oxford and Cambridge.

Students are at the very centre of our approach to teaching and learning.  We regard each student as a unique and special individual.  We are committed to putting our students at the forefront of everything we do and to bringing out the very best in the students we teach.

Enrichment

A wide variety of enrichment activities is offered to our students.  Extension and enrichment activities are a routine part of the work of the Department.  We make full use of outside speakers – from university academics to local people with special and unique experiences.  Through sharing in the experiences and insights of others we believe that Sociology can be brought to life.

trips and events

We have strong links with the Universities of Kent, Greenwich and Canterbury Christ Church and we take advantage of the conferences and events that these institutions offer.

Subject Lead:  Mr S Wilson and Mrs S Doran (swilson@fortpitt.medway.sch.uk, sdoran@fortpitt.medway.sch.uk )

Curriculum Content

Key Stage 4 – Sociology

Exam board: AQA

Sociology is the study of society and the groups and individuals within it. During this three year course students will study how human behaviour is taught through the process of socialisation via the agents that are instrumental in teaching our norms and values. Students also study research methods and develop a detailed understanding of the process and issues relating to sociological study. Social structures and issues are taught through a thematic approach where students learn about The Family, Education, Crime and Deviance and Social Stratification. Students develop a broad understanding on sociological theory including Functionalism, Marxism and Feminism.

Year 9

  • The Basics of Sociology
  • Research Methods
  • The Founding Fathers
  • The Family

Year 10

  • The Family 2
  • Education
  • Crime and Deviance

Year 11

  • Social Stratification
  • Revision of The Family
  • Revision of Education
  • Revision of Crime and Deviance
  • Revision of Social Stratification

 Key Stage 5 – Sociology

Exam board: AQA

Paper 1:  Education; Research Methods; Theory:                  2 Hour Examination Paper

Paper 2:  Families and Households; Beliefs:                               2 Hour Examination Paper

Paper 3:  Crime and Deviance:  Theory and Methods:          2 Hour Examination Paper

The following topics are studied:

Topic 1:  Education:

Students will study the role and function of the educational system.  A key focus of this topic differential educational achievement – why do some social groups achieve better outcomes than others?  Why do girls, for example, outperform boys?  Why do working class boys perform so badly?  We also relationships and processes within schools, with particular reference to teacher/student relationships, student identities and subcultures.

Topic 2:  Families and Households:

Among other topics we study changing patterns of marriage and divorce; cohabitation; the nature of childhood and the diversity of family life.  Gender roles form an important part of this topic, as does the study of changing power relationships within the family.

Topic 3:  Beliefs in Society:

The study of different belief systems, from conventional religious organizations to different cults, sects and new age movements, provide the focus for this topic.  We look at the impact of different belief systems on society and the positive and negative effects of these.  The significance of religious belief in the contemporary world, including the nature and extent of secularization, globalization and the spread of different belief systems are also explored.

Topic 4:  Crime and Deviance:

Crime and Deviance and different aspects of criminology are studied in Y13.  The relationship between ethnicity, gender, social class and crime is explored.  Globalization and the changing nature of crime in contemporary world, the media and crime and the impact of new technologies on crime also feature within this topic, as does the study of victimology, techniques for tackling crime, the nature of policing and the criminal justice system.

Alongside these substantive topics we also study different research methods and different sociological theories.  Gender, ethnicity and social class are themes that run through all of the topics we study in this fascinating and absorbing course.