SOCIOLOGY
Our vision for the Sociology Department is to foster an inclusive and stimulating learning environment where students critically explore the complexities of society, culture, and human behavior. We aim to inspire a passion for sociological inquiry, develop analytical and research skills, and promote a deep understanding of social dynamics and issues. Through engaging coursework, experiential learning, and a commitment to social justice, we prepare our students to excel in higher education and their future careers, empowering them to contribute thoughtfully and effectively to diverse and evolving communities.
Years 10 & 11
Year 10
| Topic | Learning Outcomes | |
| Term 1 | Introduction to Sociology | Introduction to Sociology To know key debates within sociology including conflict versus consensus To understand how sociological knowledge and ideas change over time and how these ideas inform our understanding of the social world To have an awareness of the contextualised work (a sense of time and place) of key classical sociologists Durkheim, Marx and Weber referencing both their view of the world and their contribution to the development of the discipline To identify and explain different sociological perspectives on social structures, social processes and social issues, including those informed by: feminism, functionalism, interactionism and Marxism as specified in the topics listed below and key arguments (identified through reading and responding to extracts from key sociological texts. To understand the interrelationship between the core areas of sociology To identify and describe how to use sociological research methods as outlined in the topics and how they apply in the specified contexts ie families, education, crime and deviance, social stratification. To undertake small-scale research projects in order to develop their understanding of the practical difficulties faced by the sociologist. To explain social phenomena including: society, socialisation, norms, values, roles, labelling, discrimination, power and authority. Research Methods Describe and explain the processes involved in research design: the establishment of appropriate aims and relevant hypotheses, the use of pilot studies, the selection of appropriate sampling methods and the analysis of data. Describe and explain qualitative and quantitative methods (questionnaires, interviews, observations) and assess the value, application, and strengths and weaknesses of different methods. Assess the usefulness of the mixed methods approach. Assess the usefulness of different types of data, qualitative and quantitative data, and official and non-official statistics Describe and explain primary and secondary sources of data Demonstrate the ability to interpret graphs, diagrams, charts and tables to discern patterns and trends in statistical data Practical issues including time, cost and access Ethical issues are consent, confidentiality and harm to participants and how the issues can be addressed. Families identify, describe and explain the functions of families (sexual, reproductive, economic and educational) describe, compare and contrast a variety of sociological perspectives on the functions of families (functionalist, feminist and Marxist) Students should be able to identify, describe and explain various family forms (nuclear, extended, reconstituted, lone parent, single sex). identify, describe and explain joint and segregated conjugal roles describe and explain the domestic division of labour in both traditional and contemporary families demonstrate their understanding of issues that impact on conjugal role relationships within the contemporary family including decision making, money management, dual career families, child rearing and leisure activities describe, compare and contrast a variety of sociological perspectives on conjugal role relationships (functionalist, feminist and Marxist). identify, describe and explain how relationships within families have changed over time (pre-industrial, industrial and contemporary/modern) identify, describe and explain contemporary family related issues, the quality of parenting, the relationships between teenagers and adults, care of the disabled/elderly and arranged marriage describe, compare and contrast a variety of sociological perspectives on changing relationships within families (functionalist, feminist and Marxist) describe the key ideas of Willmott and Young. identify, describe and explain different criticisms of families describe, compare and contrast a variety of sociological perspectives on these issues (functionalist, feminist and Marxist) describe the key ideas of Zaretsky on families describe the key ideas of Delphy and Leonard on families. identify, describe and explain the pattern of divorce in Britain since 1945 using relevant statistical data explain reasons for the rise in divorce since 1945 including: changes in the law, changes in social attitudes and values, secularisation, changes in the status of women in society describe the consequences of divorce for family members (husband and wife, children and extended family) and the increase in the numbers of lone parent families describe, compare and contrast a variety of sociological perspectives on these issues (functionalist, feminist and Marxist). |
| Term 2 | Research Methods | |
| Term 3 | Research Methods/ Families | |
| Term 4 | Families | |
| Term 5 | Education (as an institution) | |
| Term 6 | Education (as a system) |
Year 11
| Topic | Learning Outcomes | |
| Term 1 | Crime and Deviance | Crime & Deviance identify, describe and explain various sociological explanations of crime and deviance including anomie, labelling, structural theories, subcultural theories and interactionist theory explain the social construction of concepts of crime and deviance describe, compare and contrast a variety of sociological perspectives on the social construction of crime and deviance (interactionist, functionalist, feminist and Marxist) describe the key ideas of Merton on the causes of crime describe the key ideas of Becker on the causes of crime. identify, describe and explain formal and informal methods of social control including unwritten rules and sanctions describe, compare and contrast a variety of sociological perspectives on social control (interactionist, functionalist, feminist and Marxist) describe the key ideas of Heidensohn on female conformity. identify, describe and explain factors affecting criminal and deviant behaviour including social class, gender, ethnicity and age identify and describe various public debates over criminal and deviant behaviour including concerns over violent crime, sentencing, the treatment of young offenders, the prison system and media coverage of crime describe, compare and contrast a variety of sociological perspectives on factors affecting criminal and deviant behaviour (interactionist, functionalist, feminist and Marxist) describe the key ideas of Albert Cohen on delinquent subcultures describe the key ideas of Carlen on women, crime and poverty. identify and describe the main sources of data on crime describe the pattern and trends in crime figures using relevant statistical data explain the ‘dark figure’ of crime (unreported and unrecorded crime) describe, compare and contrast a variety of sociological perspectives on the use of data on crime (functionalist, feminist and Marxist). Social Stratification describe and explain the functionalist theory of stratification (effective role allocation and performance linked to the promise of rewards) describe the key ideas of Davis and Moore describe, compare and contrast alternative perspectives on functionalist theory (feminist and Marxist). identify, describe and explain socio-economic class divisions in society describe, compare and contrast a variety of sociological perspectives on socio-economic class (functionalist, feminist and Marxist) describe the key ideas of Marx on socio-economic class describe the key ideas of Weber on socio-economic class. identify, describe and explain factors affecting life chances including social class, gender, race and ethnicity, sexuality, age, disability, religion and belief describe, compare and contrast a variety of sociological perspectives on life chances (functionalist, feminist and Marxist) describe the key ideas of Devine on the idea of the affluent worker. identify, describe and explain different interpretations of poverty as a social issue including, the culture of poverty, material deprivation, the way in which governments have attempted to alleviate poverty and unemployment, the impact of globalisation describe, compare and contrast a variety of sociological perspectives on poverty (functionalist, feminist and Marxist) describe the key ideas of Townsend on relative deprivation describe the key ideas of Murray on the underclass including links to New Right theories. identify, describe and explain different forms of power and authority including traditional, charismatic, rational-legal, formal and informal sources of power describe, compare and contrast a variety of sociological perspectives on power and authority (functionalist, feminist and Marxist) describe the key ideas of Weber on power and authority. identify, describe and explain different factors affecting power relationships including social class, gender, sexuality, race, age, disability, religion and beliefs describe, compare and contrast a variety of sociological perspectives on power relationships (functionalist, feminist and Marxist) describe the key ideas of Walby on patriarchy. |
| Term 2 | Crime and Deviance | |
| Term 3 | Social Stratification | |
| Term 4 | Social Stratification | |
| Term 5 | Revision and Exam Prep | |
| Term 6 | Exam season |
