Sociology is the study of society, focusing on how people interact, live, and behave in groups. It examines social structures like family, education, and crime, exploring issues such as inequality and social change. In GCSE Sociology, you'll develop critical thinking, analyse evidence, and understand how society shapes individuals and vice versa, preparing for real-world insights.
What is the purpose of learning Sociology at ALNS?
The purpose of learning Sociology is to empower students with critical thinking skills to analyse and explain social issues, cultural diversity, and political ideologies. It helps students understand the connections between individuals and society, evaluate information critically, and develop tolerance and open-mindedness. By studying research methods and real-world issues, students can better navigate and make sense of our ever-changing world.
How do we teach Sociology at ALNS?
Sociology is delivered through diverse teaching methods, focusing on knowledge acquisition and real-life application. Lessons include reading, explaining, and analysing sociological theories, evaluating studies, and exploring news articles. Activities encourage critical thinking, such as assessing media representations of key topics like family, education, and crime. This approach ensures all learners engage and develop evaluative and analytical skills.
Intent
The Sociology curriculum aims to help students become confident learners. The main goals are to:
To develop students' ability to analyse and evaluate societal issues, theories, and evidence.
To equip students to connect sociological concepts to personal, community, and global contexts.
To foster tolerance and acceptance by exploring cultural, political, and economic diversity.
To teach sociological research methods to assess and interpret information critically.
To create open-minded thinkers who can articulate informed opinions and navigate an ever-changing society.
Implementation
The curriculum is taught in a variety of ways:
Lessons are designed to help students gain knowledge, apply it to real-life situations, and use evidence to evaluate sociological ideas.
Students explore news articles and media to understand how key topics like family, education, and crime are represented.
Teachers provide detailed feedback to guide students, with time in lessons for them to reflect and improve.
Weekly homework tasks build on class learning, helping students strengthen their skills and understanding.
All lesson resources and revision materials are available on Google Classroom, so students can access them anytime.
Reading activities, glossaries, and vocabulary tools help students develop confidence with academic language.
Teachers use debates, questions, and memory techniques to make lessons engaging and help students retain knowledge.
Discussion-based activities encourage students to express ideas, build on others’ views, and develop debating skills.
Chromebooks are used in lessons for independent work, quizzes, research, and accessing resources at each student’s own pace.
Students take ownership of their learning by setting goals, tracking progress, and identifying areas for improvement.
Impact
The impact of this curriculum aims to ensure that:
Students develop a deep understanding of society, its structures, and its influence on individuals.
They are well-prepared for future education or careers in fields like law, social work, politics, and criminology.
They become confident and independent thinkers, capable of analysing real-world issues critically.
Students cultivate a positive attitude towards Sociology and an appreciation for its relevance to everyday life.
They can make connections between Sociology and other subjects, as well as contemporary societal challenges.
They gain valuable knowledge, such as understanding cultural diversity, media influence, and research methods.
develop a strong understanding of key sociological ideas, theories, and studies.
learn how to apply sociological methods to analyse and evaluate social issues.
build critical thinking skills, making connections and drawing conclusions about society.
learn to communicate sociological concepts clearly, using the right terminology and supporting evidence.
Students will need access to equipment, books, and Chromebooks to access resources on Google Classroom.
Independent learning tasks will be set fortnightly on Satchel One to reinforce and extend classroom learning.
At ALNS, we ensure that students not only grasp the fundamental concepts of Sociology but also develop a genuine interest and curiosity, encouraging them to continue exploring and understanding society throughout their lives.
2 Year Overview
At ALNS, the two-year GCSE Sociology will allow students to explore and critically evaluate key sociological theories, concepts, and social issues, preparing them for the Eduqas GCSE Sociology exam. The curriculum ensures a strong understanding of how social structures impact individual behaviour and society as a whole.
In Year 10, students focus on Paper 1, which covers how people develop their identities and the role of socialization through key agents like family and education. Students will examine how these factors shape individual identity and understand the theoretical approaches to these social processes. This provides the foundation for more in-depth analysis in Year 11.
In Year 11, students move on to Paper 2, where they study broader social structures, inequality, and crime. They will learn about different theories of inequality and explore topics like crime and deviance. This paper encourages students to critically assess social issues and apply sociological theories to real-world problems.
Throughout both years, students will also develop important research skills. They will learn about the sociological research process and how to analyse and evaluate data. The course emphasizes critical thinking, the use of sociological terminology, and debating contemporary social issues. This prepares students for their exams and helps them engage with the world around them in a more informed way.
Students will learn key sociological concepts like culture, norms, values, roles, identity, and how society influences behavior.
They will explore debates on how identity is formed, looking at nature vs. nurture, cultural diversity, and examples of feral children.
Students will study the process of socialization—how we learn about society—and the role of family, education, media, and peer groups in shaping our identity.
They will explore how social control works in society, both informally (e.g., through family or peer pressure) and formally (e.g., through laws and institutions).
The Family
Students will investigate different family structures in the UK and around the world, such as nuclear families, extended families, single-parent families, and even polygamous families.
They will explore how social changes, such as shifts in values, laws, and technology, have affected family life, leading to changes like higher divorce rates, more cohabitation, and smaller family sizes.
Students will learn about theories on the role of the family from different perspectives, including Functionalism (how families help society function), Marxism (how families serve capitalism), and Feminism (how families can be patriarchal).
They will also look at the challenges families face today, including domestic violence, marital breakdown, and changing gender roles.
Education
Students will study how education affects society, learning about different sociological theories, such as Functionalism, Marxism, and Feminism.
They will explore how processes inside schools, like streaming, labeling, and teacher expectations, can influence students’ educational achievements.
Students will also look at how different factors—such as gender, social class, and ethnicity—impact educational success.
They will consider the role of factors like social class, racism, and gender stereotypes in shaping students' outcomes.
Sociological Research Methods
Students will explore the different ways sociologists collect data, including surveys, interviews and observations.
They will learn about the strengths and weaknesses of different research methods, and how these methods can help answer sociological questions.
They will also consider practical issues, like access to participants, and ethical concerns, such as consent and confidentiality, that sociologists face when conducting research.
Social Stratification and Differentiation
Students will study how society is divided into different groups based on factors like class, gender, ethnicity, and age, and the impact this has on people’s life chances.
They will explore different theories that explain social inequality, including Functionalism (how inequality benefits society), Marxism (how inequality benefits the rich), and Feminism (how inequality affects women).
Students will examine issues of power, authority, and inequality in society, learning about topics such as racism, sexism, and the glass ceiling.
Students will learn about different types of poverty, including absolute and relative poverty, and explore concepts like material deprivation and the cycle of poverty.
They will study who is most affected by poverty and how global issues impact poverty in the UK.
Crime and Deviance
Students will investigate what crime and deviance are, and how society defines and responds to these behaviours.
They will study how social control works in society through formal systems (like the police) and informal methods (like family or peer pressure).
Students will look at patterns of criminal behaviour, considering how factors like class, gender, and ethnicity influence crime rates.
They will explore various sociological theories of crime, including Functionalism (why crime happens), Marxism (how the powerful influence crime), and Interactionism (how labeling and stereotypes affect people’s behaviour).
Sociological Research Methods (Continued)
Students will learn how sociologists design research studies, form hypotheses, choose methods, and analyze data.
They will practice interpreting different types of data, such as graphs and charts, to identify trends and patterns in society.
Paper 1: Understanding Social Processes Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes Weighting: 50% of the qualification
Topics Covered:
Key concepts and processes of cultural transmission
Families
Education
Sociological research methods
Assessment:
A mix of short answer, structured, and extended-response questions (all compulsory).
Extended-response questions require students to integrate and apply knowledge from different areas of the specification.
Paper 2: Understanding Social Structures Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes Weighting: 50% of the qualification
Topics Covered:
Social differentiation and stratification
Crime and deviance
Applied research methods
Assessment:
A mix of short answer, structured, and extended-response questions (all compulsory).
Extended-response questions require students to draw on and apply knowledge across different topic areas.
