Sociology
Teachers & Roles in Department
Mr G. MacDonald - Subject Leader
Mr P. Kent - Subject Teacher
About Sociology
The aim of the sociology department is to encourage the academic and social confidence of our students in a positive educational environment. We hope the students will actively participate in discursive lessons which are approached in an intellectually challenging manner. Students should be aware of their progress and development in this subject and we aim to encourage students to maximise their attainment beyond predicted levels at AS and A2. We hope that students will enjoy sociology, that they are well motivated and that it is taught enthusiastically. The department is well resourced and students will be exposed to a wide range of learning materials and teaching styles. We hope the staff are approachable and that students feel confident that any subject related difficulties can be positively resolved through discussions with staff.
Sociology is a vibrant subject dealing with key issues in today’s society. It is very popular amongst students.
The department staff have undergone a wide range of training courses and continue to develop their knowledge and understanding of the subject and exam board requirements.
Mr Kent very positively assists in the teaching of sociology.
Mr MacDonald is a very enthusiastic teacher with a wide range of teaching experience at AS and A2 level and is Subject Leader.
Curriculum
KS5
Students study AS and A2 AQA Sociology. At AS we study 2 modules:
- SCLY 1 Culture & Identity - looking at the concept of culture, socialisation and individual identities.
- SCLY 2 Education With Research Methods - looking at the role of education insociety and differences in attainment with regard to gender ethnicity and social class. We also look at ways by which educational issues can be researched.
At A2 students will study a further 2 modules:
- SCLY 3 - The Mass Media - students will study sociological approaches to the Mass Media.
- SCLY 4 - Crime & Deviance: Theory & Methods - we will study sociological approaches to crime and deviance. We will also focus on sociological theories and research methods.
Homework
Homework is set every week. It is expected to take 2 – 3 hours to complete. Students will be given a list of websites/and book titles and will be expected to read quality newspapers and refer to sociology review (even subscribe to this journal). Homework tasks should be varied with an emphasis on individual research. It is also very important for students to gain a clear insight into the nature of exam questions and assessment. Homework will include questions from past exam papers and students will receive detailed feedback based on examination mark schemes. Students are also expected to carry out regular background reading as this is an essential part of the course.
Coursework also forms part of the required homework and it is essential that students meet all the relevant deadlines required for this module – which will be marked externally by the Exam Board Officer.
Extra-Curricular Activities
Conferences will be arranged where appropriate to the units studied at AS and A2. Workshop sessions have been arranged with AQA board examiners – to offer guidance on coursework.
Master classes are available for the Gifted and Talented students at Sheffield University.
We have taken visits to the Sheffield high Court for A2 students and we have welcomed a range of guest speakers.