Overview
Staff:
- Louise Hawes - Head of Department
- Pat Walsh
- Jake proctor
This subject, which is relatively new to pupils when they reach sixth form:
- provides us with an understanding of how social forces shape individual attitudes and behaviour
- shows us how societies are developed and maintained.
- challenges our common sense notions about the social world that we live in.
- helps us to the appreciate the diversity that exists in the human population.
Perhaps most fundamentally of all, sociology enables us to understand ourselves. The way that we think, behave, and feel, indeed our very sense of identity, is socially produced. People often speak of human nature as though deep within us there lies some reservoir of natural impulses that determine the way that we behave. There is, however, no such thing as human nature, for the way that we think, behave, and feel is shaped by what sociologists call the process of socialization. This provides us with language, gives us our values and beliefs, establishes our identity, and so turns us into members of society.
It is closely related to Psychology as this has a great influence on human behaviour in all aspects of society.
KS5 (GCE)
A-level Sociology has been a popular choice since its introduction in 2000. Pupils in Year 13 have the opportunity to study ‘The family’ ‘The Education System’ and methods.
In Year 14 there is an opportunity to study Social Inequality, theoretical perspectives like feminism, Marxism and functionalism, plus Crime and Deviance in Society.
The course taught in the department are AS and A2 level Sociology to the WJEC specification.
AS Sociology
In year 13 all students will study AS Unit 1 Acquiring Culture
Which ends with a 1 hour 15 minute examination in May comprising 15% of the overall qualification.
They will also study AS Unit 2 Understanding Society and Methods of Sociological Enquiry. This ends with a 2 hour written examination which is worth 25% of the overall qualification.
A2 Sociology
In Year 14 all students will complete A2 Unit 3 Power and Control, this ends with a 2 hour written examination in the summer of their A2 year and is worth 25% of the overall qualification. They will also study A2 Unit 4 Social inequality and Applied Methods of Sociological Enquiry. This ends with a 2 hour 15 minute paper and is worth 35% of the overall qualification.
Careers
Career Opportunities
Sociology opens up avenues in psychology, social work, teaching, business management, sport-related areas, history, journalism and law. There is plenty of opportunity for debate and discussion in class with students building their verbal skills and confidence – both essential for any profession.