Sociology A Level

AQA A Level Sociology

This course allows students to explore how society is structured and how social factors influence behaviour, identity, and opportunity. Through topics such as culture and identity, education, media, and crime, students develop a deeper understanding of the forces shaping everyday life. Sociology encourages critical thinking, challenges assumptions, and examines contemporary issues and debates. By analysing real-world examples, students gain insight into social change and develop the skills to question and interpret the world around them.

At High Storrs students will study the following topics;

Education – Examines how education shapes society, achievement differences, school life, and the impact of policies and global trends.

Culture and Identity – Explores culture, socialisation, and how identity is shaped by society, including links to age, gender, ethnicity, class, disability, sexuality, and globalisation.

The Media – Looks at how media ownership, control, and globalisation influence content, representation, and how this impacts audiences.

Crime and Deviance – Examines crime, deviance, social order, patterns by social groups, global and media influences, and the role of the criminal justice system.

Theory and Methods – Covers research methods, data, theory, ethics, and the relationship between sociology, science, and social policy.

Paper 1 - 33%

• Education with Theory and Methods
  

Paper 2 - 33%

• Topics in Sociology (Culture and Identity and The Media)
  

Paper 3 - 33%

• Crime and Deviance with Theory and Methods
  

A minimum of five GCSEs at Grade 9 – 4. This MUST include:

• Mathematics Grade 4 AND

• English Language Grade 5 OR

• English Literature Grade 5 AND English Language Grade 4

Plus

Grade 4 in Sociology (if studied)

AND Grade 5 in English Language OR English Literature

It is not necessary to have taken GCSE Sociology to do this course, though those who have will find it useful. It combines well with any A level course offered in the sixth form. Studying sociology develops valuable skills such as independent and team working, research, information analysis, and critical thinking. Students learn to conduct research using diverse methods and gain insights into how society functions. These skills make those who have studied sociology attractive to a wide range of employers and can lead to many possible careers, including management, social work, local and central government, teaching, lecturing, journalism, medicine, law, and other similar professional opportunities.