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Sociology

A Level Sociology

What is it about at sixth-form level?

Why does the average man living in Blackpool live 12 years less than a man living in the City of London? Why are there more young black men in prison in the USA than in college? Why do the richest 80 people in the world have the same amount of wealth as the poorest half of the world’s population? These are the kinds of questions that a sociologist seeks to answer.

Sociology is extremely diverse in its content and at A level students will get a real taste of the range of different topic areas. You will study topics as varied as terrorism, educational inequality, mental illness and crimes committed by the state. The key to success at A level, however lies in developing a ‘sociological imagination’; that is, to develop an appreciation of the unique perspective sociologists adopt when attempting to explain human behaviour and human societies. This will involve delving beyond common sense and through adopting a rigorous methodological and theoretical analysis of social issues. As a sociologist you need to be able to appreciate the limits of your own experiences and to construct explanations which are appreciative of the strengths and weaknesses of different viewpoints.

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Lower Sixth
Upper Sixth

Why study it and what skills does it develop?

Sociology develops skills valued by both universities and employers, including critical analysis, independent thinking and research. Students gain a critical understanding of contemporary social processes and social changes, and develop skills that focus on their personal identity, roles and responsibilities within society. Successful students appreciate the significance of theoretical and conceptual issues in sociological debates, and are able to evaluate sociological methodology and a range of research methods through active research.

What prior knowledge and skills are required?

The course assumes no prior knowledge of Sociology. As a social science, we would consider other relevant subjects at GCSE as good indicators of your ability to succeed on this course. Where GCSE Sociology has been studied, a 7 grade is required to continue to A level.

How is the course assessed?

A level

The A level is assessed by three papers, each lasting 2 hours. The first paper contains both short answer questions and extended writing responses. It assesses the topics of Education with Methods in Context and Theory and Methods. The second paper comprises extended writing questions and examines Families and Households in Section A and Beliefs in Section B. The third paper contains both short answer questions and extended writing responses. Its focus is Crime and Deviance with Theory and Methods. Each exam paper is worth 80 marks and a third of the overall A level.

Reading

To be confirmed at the start of the course

Introducing Social Theory (2nd Edition)
By P. Jones, L. Bradbury, S. LeBoutillier
Published by Polity Press, ISBN 978-074-563-5231

AQA A level Sociology Book 1
By R. Webb, H. Westergaard
Published by Napier Press, ISBN 978-0954007911

AQA A level Sociology Book 2
By R. Webb & H. Westergaard
Published by Napier Press, ISBN 978-0954007928

Exam Board and Specification Codes

A level: AQA 7192

"I have really enjoyed my time SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ and would recommend this college to anyone. I learnt how to work more efficiently and revise more effectively thanks to the tutorials and weekly Timed Assignments, which also allowed me to prepare myself mentally for the exams from the first day. My history teacher was phenomenal. He managed to get me to reengage with the subject, as well as giving me all the support and help I asked for and more, giving me the knowledge and exams technique needed to achieve an A*."

Samuel

Grades achieved at SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½: A*AA Progressed to: Exeter University (International Relations)

"The small class sizes proved invaluable for a number of reasons, some of which I did not anticipate. Aside from the obvious individual attention, the size of the class allowed for a lot of students’ questions to turn into a fruitful academic discussion. I have found the atmosphere at the college far more friendly and supportive than I expected. The support I had from my Personal Tutor was very helpful during the application process for university. I could tell that he really did care about my future and wanted to do everything he could in order to help me secure my place at my chosen university. Overall, I am pleased to say that my high expectations of SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ were fully met."

Mark

Grades achieved at SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½: AAB Progressed to: Southampton University (Business Innovation)

"I have definitely made the right decision to come to SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ - my grades have gone from averaging Es to straight As. Teaching at SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ is much more personal and I felt like talking to teachers. They are very good and give you lots of support if you do not understand something. My Personal Tutor took me through the UCAS process step by step. We went through my Personal Statement many times to make sure it was completely perfect. I am very excited about my firm choice."

Matthew

Grades achieved at SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½: AAA Progressed to: Warwick University (Chemistry)

"As a dyslexic student who initially got CCEE for my AS, I was convinced that I could not achieve any higher. My time at SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ proved me wrong. Initially I was reluctant to move from my local school in York to a college so far away from home, my parents, and friends. At the end of my first year I was overjoyed to find that many hours of hard work and renewed revision techniques had resulted in me achieving three A's in my subjects. I wanted to continue at A2 as I knew it would greatly improve my university prospects and encourage me to work even harder. After two fantastic years at SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ I can emphatically say that going to SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ was the best decision I ever made."

Gabriel

Grades achieved at SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½: AAA Progressed to: Nottingham University (Philosophy)

"Having a Personal Tutor to discuss ANYTHING with, from my UCAS application to organising my life in general, really did make life at the college more streamlined and in general less stressful."

Andrew

Grades achieved at SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½: A*AA Progressed to: University of York (Law)

"Honestly, I could not imagine when I joined SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ that, due to language and adaptation barriers, I would achieve top grades in my first A-level exam sittings. This view changed completely after only a few weeks in the college’s supportive and motivational environment; with teachers who aimed at finding a personal touch with each student and with my Personal Tutor who made my adjustment to the UK education system not only an easy step in my life but, more importantly, an enjoyable one."

Anastasia

Grades achieved at SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½: A*A*A* Progressed to: University College London (Economics)

"International students have many aspects to think about, such as accommodation and guardians, but SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ surprised me by having a highly organised and supportive administration. Also, because most SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ Cambridge students are local, as an ‘international’ student, I found this very useful in both improving my English and in giving me a taste of a genuinely ‘English’ college."

Akmaral

Grades achieved at SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½: A*A*A* Progressed to: University College London (Mathematics and Statistics)

"The teachers really helped me overcome any difficulties I came across; they always seemed willing to offer support be it inside or outside of the classroom. I could safely say my teachers inspired me to work hard and aim for the best, sometimes simply by being passionate about what they do."

Julia

Grades achieved at SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½: A*AABB Progressed to: King's College London (International Relations)

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