AQA Level 3 Advanced GCE in Sociology

A-Level Sociology will help you to make sense of society and explore issues that impact everyone; from gendered roles within the family to the causes of crime and deviance. You will develop a critical approach to understanding issues around crime, the family, education, identity, and much more.

Paper 1: Education with Theory and Methods

The role and function of the education system

The differences in educational achievement by social class, gender, and ethnicity

Pupil identities and subcultures

The marketisation of education

The hidden curriculum

Key Discussion Questions: Why do girls achieve higher grades than boys on average? How do teachers’ assumptions about gender and ethnicity shape students? Are schools preparing students for life in a multi-cultural society?

Paper 2: Topics in Sociology

Families and Households

Relationships within the family

Changing patterns of marriage and divorce

Gender roles and domestic labour

The nature of childhood

Beliefs in Society

Cults, sects, and New Age movements

The extent of secularisation

The relationship between social groups and religious beliefs and practices

Science and religion

Key Discussion Questions: Why have marriage and birth rates declined? Does the family support the patriarchy? Is there gender inequality in the home? Is religion becoming less influential? Is religion a source of empowerment or oppression? What role does religion play in global conflicts?

Paper 3: Crime and Deviance with Theory and Methods

The difference between crime and deviance

Patterns and trends in crime

Distribution of crime by ethnicity, gender, and social class

The media and crime

Human rights and state crime

Key Discussion Questions: Are men and women treated differently by the criminal justice system? Is crime positive for society? How effective are prisons at reforming offenders? Does the media cause moral panics?

5 hours teaching per week and assessed by a final exam

We would expect students to have met the expectations for entry to 6th form and to have a grade 5 in a relevant humanities subject. We welcome conversations with individual students about their suitability for the course.

Sociology is a great choice of subject for anyone interested in a career in teaching, government, policing, social work, and law. It also combines well with other humanities subjects such as Government and Politics, History, RE, and Psychology.