Sociology A level

Sociology is a subject that rewards and challenges those who are curious about the world around them. It encourages students to question why things are as they are. Sociology develops analytical and evaluative skills and encourages students to express their opinions and debate with others.

Studying Sociology at Teesdale Sixth Form is an enjoyable, enlightening and challenging experience. Students see the world through the new and exciting lens of informed sociological understanding. This really helps students to mature intellectually and emotionally

Sociology offers the opportunity to make links between different aspects of the course and wider social and political debates. These can be used to deepen the knowledge base of the students and also to promote debate, develop discussion skills and increase interdependence. Developing these skills then allows students to write with more clarity and evaluate with more authority when answering exam questions.

Qualification	A level Sociology
Awarding body	AQA
Entry requirements	GCSE at Grade 5 or above in both maths and English.
Year 12	Students study two modules – Families and Households explores family diversity and government policy as well as changing demography and childhood. We explore key questions about what the key functions of the family are and how childhood has changed over time. Education with Theory and Methods explores the way in which educational opportunity is influenced by different factors and how policy towards education has changed over time. There will also be a focus on how sociologists use different methods to study education.
Year 13	Students will study two further modules – Global Development seeks to explain theories of development and modernisation and the way in which western aid impacts on countries in the developing world. Crime and Deviance explores issues including institutional racism in the criminal justice system and the context of the Black Lives Matter movement.
Assessment	Three written examinations at the end of Year 13 – Each exam carries the equal weight of 33% of the final A level grade. Each exam has a range of questions including short stimulus response and longer essay questions.

Why study sociology?

Sociology can lead to study at university and a number of occupations that require professional qualifications. Student often go on to study law or criminology after studying sociology. Importantly it opens the opportunity to many different disciplines because it encourages students to think about the world around them in new and different ways.

I like studying sociology because it links with so many things that I encounter in everyday life and makes me question things about school and society around me.

Year 13 student

Potential career paths and further study

Sociology can lead to study at university and a number of occupations that require professional qualifications. Student often go on to study law or criminology after studying sociology.

I enjoy studying sociology because it helps me realise how society works and functions.

Year 13 student