Sociology

Curriculum Intent

A level Sociology provides students with an in-depth understanding and respect for the social world around them and the ability to recognise the environmental factors affecting the behaviour of individuals groups and ultimately, society as a whole. 

Through the study of Sociology as an evidence-based approach to understanding social phenomena, our students will develop the courage and resilience to appreciate the causes, impact and subsequent consequences of societal change on the structure of social institutions such as the family, education, religion and crime.  

Furthermore, our students will develop a deeper understanding of individuals and specific groups life chances based on key social variables such as class, age, gender and ethnicity (CAGE) that exist in our society.  

Through the study of Sociology, our students will develop research skills to scientifically investigate society, critically assess evidence and build the courage to consider solutions to today’s societal issues. As students gain a wider knowledge of society, we aim for them to build on British values such as respect and tolerance for diversity in society which are an integral part of the culture here at Blenheim. 

Students will develop: 

• Their resilience for developing and exploring deep knowledge of sociological theory and evidence-based research.
• The skills to be an effective social scientist, through the the study of research methods. 
• The ability to critically assess reasons for and impacts of inequality in education families and crime. 
• An understanding of the challenges faced by social groups in society to develop their respect and tolerance for du ease groups in society. 
• An understating of the causes and effects of social behaviours. 

Implememt

• Students have full access to a knowledge rich Sociology curriculum which is differentiated to meet learning needs and styles. 
• Curriculum plans and glossaries are provided to all students to help them identify and follow key syllabus content and re-call the meaning of subject specific vocabulary. 
• Formative and summative assessments provide opportunities for retrieval to embed knowledge, increasing the chance of information recall. 
• Variety of teaching approaches so that students are engaged in the content of the curriculum. 

Impact

• By the end of Key Stage 5 students will demonstrate a complex understanding of sociological theories for analysing society such as conflict theory (Marxism, feminism), functionalism, interpretivism and research methods.  
• They will be able to analyse and evaluate theories of, and approaches to, the study of behaviour in society,  
• Students will be taught how to communicate their ideas effectively, learning exam techniques which will enable them to maximise their outcomes. They will be introduced to sociological terminology and vocabulary and taught how to develop their written responses to meet the expectations of the syllabus and its examinations. 
• Students should be able to identify and discuss different sociological perspectives and be able to apply their knowledge and understanding to the topic areas covered 
• They should evaluate ideas presented to them by identifying links and evidencing their ideas creating relevant, well-structured, and evidentially supported evaluations. 
• They should also be able to show their skills at sociological research and be able to apply these skills to potential research scenarios successfully.
• Students should be inspired to go to further study of the social sciences at university

Facilities

• Specialist teaching classrooms
• A wide range of reading material
• Past issues of Sociology Review