Subject Leader: Ms N Croucher – ncroucher@knoleacademy.org
Subject Teachers: Ms C Foreman and Mr D Hooker
Exam Board: WJEC
Intent
The Sociology curriculum is designed to equip students with the knowledge, empathy, and advanced skills needed to navigate and contribute to our interconnected world. By exploring society at both local and global levels, it provides insights into its structures, processes, and issues through a sociological perspective. The program encourages engagement with thought-provoking topics, such as “is the UK prison service fit for purpose” while promoting a critical understanding of contemporary societal changes and their influence on individuals and communities.
Implementation
Sociology is an excellent option for students that like to question the world around them, the course covers a wide range of subjects including:
- Family life
- Education
- Crime and deviance
- Stratification
Impact
Sociology provides students with a foundation to understand society and their place within society. Key benefits are
- Students learn to analyse and evaluate societal structures, processes, and issues.
- It fosters critical inquiry, enabling them to question norms and challenge stereotypes.
- The course promotes awareness of cultural, social, and economic diversity.
- Students gain insight into issues such as inequality, gender, race, and class.
Sociology in Each Stage
At key stage 4 students have the opportunity to study Sociology GCSE. It is designed to enable students to develop a wide range of knowledge and understanding about society, how sociologists study and understand its structures, processes and issues. Sociology is exciting, interesting and relevant to students’ lives.
Examination Information
Paper 1: Understanding social pressures (50%)
Written examination. 1 hour 45 minutes. 100 marks.
This component covers the following topic area;
- Key concepts and the processes of cultural transmission
- Families
- Education
- Sociological research methods
Paper 2: Understanding social structures (50%)
Written examination. 1 hour 45 minutes. 100 marks.
This component covers the following topic areas;
- Social differentiation and stratification
- Crime and deviance
- Applied methods of sociological enquiry
Future Paths
Students can progress onto IB Social and Cultural Anthropology, A Level Sociology and/ or A level Criminology
A qualification in Sociology opens the door to a variety of rewarding career paths across multiple sectors. The skills and knowledge gained are highly transferable, making it a versatile qualification. Here are some potential career paths:
- Social and community services
- Education and research
- Criminal justice and law
- Media and communications
- Business and human resources
- Healthcare and wellbeing