Social Sciences
Studying the social sciences allow students the opportunity to investigate the society they live in and critically evaluate the role that they have within it. Our Faculty includes a wide range of subjects, each with their own curriculum content and style, but are united in their approach to developing the inquisitive and considerate nature of each student we teach. We offer Psychology, Sociology, Law, Criminology, and Politics at KS5, with students being able to study a variety of these if they wish. At KS4 we offer GCSE Citizenship which offers a well-rounded curriculum with aspects of each of our Level 3 subjects, so that students are introduced to the skills they need to progress and succeed.
Social sciences offer an insight into human development and behaviour with the focus not only being on ‘how’ individuals’ live out their lives, but considering ‘why’ their contextual situation has brought that about. Each subject takes a different approach to this, with Sociology and Criminology having a more investigative approach to the impact of childhood, race, culture, education, and beliefs. Psychology delves deeper into the internal and genetic factors seen to cause the individual differences throughout society. Law and Politics focus more on societal structures and behaviours, which are a consequence of our social development and historic action.
Together our subjects aim to play a crucial role in forming solicitous and mindful citizens who can progress into the world of work or higher education with a more perceptive approach. Social sciences play a huge part in advancing human understanding, and in forming legislation, policies, educational approaches, and many more aspects of our multifaceted society.
Our Curriculum Content
Citizenship (Pearson Edexcel GCSE)
Year 10: Living together in the UK; Democracy at work in the UK; Taking Citizenship action
Year 11: Law and justice; Power and influence
Psychology (AQA A Level)
Year 12: Introduction to Psychology and Social Influence; Memory; Attachment; Approaches in Psychology and Biopsychology; Psychopathology; Research methods
Year 13: Evaluating research methods; Issues and debates in Psychology; Psychology in practice (optional units)
Sociology (AQA A Level)
Year 12: Introduction to Sociology; Education; Research methods; Evaluation of sociological approaches
Year 13: Beliefs in society; Crime and deviance; Theories and methods
Law (OCR A Level)
Year 12: Law making; The English Legal System; Criminal Law; Negligence as a Tort
Year 13: Development of Tort law; Contract Law; Understanding the ‘nature of law’
Criminology (WJEC Applied Diploma)
Year 12: Changing awareness of crime; Crime and punishment
Year 13: Criminological theories; Crime scene to courtroom
Politics (Pearson Edexcel A Level)
Year 12: UK Government and politics, including: Democracy, political parties, voting, the constitution, the Prime Minister and the executive; Political ideas
Year 13: Application and differences within political ideologies; US government and politics