Students who choose to study Sociology at Key Stage 5 follow the AQA Sociology A level course. 

AQA Sociology at Marlborough is full of thought-provoking questions, arguments, explanations, and evidence-based studies with helpful tips, exercises and assessments to help you achieve the best possible grade in your examination. A range of teaching and learning styles are embedded throughout the course.  You will be guided carefully through the syllabus in stages so that you will see your skills and knowledge improving week by week.  Written feedback and diagnostic target setting will help you achieve aspirational outcomes.

Course Content:

Sociology is a fascinating subject with its many interesting theories and topics, it will appeal to anyone interested in understanding the world they live in.  Sociology allows you to challenge the taken for granted and critically examine and explain the social world around you.

Students are able to develop their understanding of social structures, processes and issues through a number of skills including critical thinking and evidence based arguments in its application to examined units.  They include:

• Families and Households (Roles, Relationships and Conflict)
• Education (the experience of schooling and the influence of Social Class, Gender and Ethnicity on achievement)
• Crime
• Deviance and Social Control Theory
• Beliefs in Society 

A thorough understanding of Sociological Research Methods is also established in the first year and developed further in the second year.  An understanding of the Scientific Method is encouraged, and important questions are built in:

• What is ethical research?
• What makes data good? 
• Can humans be studied scientifically and should values influence the research process or not? 
• Is Sociology a Science? 
• What is Science?

Assessment

All assessment in the course is by written examination. Students will take three papers at the end of their course:

• Paper 1: Education with Theory and Methods, worth 33.3% of the final grade
• Paper 2: Families and Households and Beliefs in Society, worth 33.3% of the final grade
• Paper 3: Crime and Deviance with Theory and Methods, worth 33.3% of the final grade

Sociology A level is an extremely useful foundation for further study and careers in the following areas: Politics and Social Policy, charitable organisations, Media and Film industry, Digital Marketing, Advertising, Journalism, Law, Criminal Justice System (Criminology), Teaching, Education and Early Years, Social Welfare, Health Care Professionals, Civil Service, Business and any job where you work with people.

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