SOCIOLOGY

LEVEL 2: GCSE
EXAMINING BOARD: AQA
  

This course is a core component of the Level 2 Social Science Pathway and studied alongside the Higher Project Qualification plus two other GCSE/Vocational courses for a duration of one year. The Level 2 Pathway will help prepare you for a Level 3 Study Programme and to pursue a range of careers.

This is a perfect course if you are constantly questioning why our society works the way it does and why things do or don’t change. We tackle how and why our society is structured the way it is, whilst embedding contemporary issues. We also consider how these issues can be interpreted using different sociological perspectives, as well as the impact they have on different groups in society.

The nature of this course is highly theoretical, analytical and evaluative. Therefore, if you are driven to work towards progressing to A Levels, this might be the right course for you! Equally, if you want to just gain a deeper understanding of the world you live in, Sociology may be for you too.

You will also be offered trips as part of joining the Social Science team. Previous trips have included Bristol Crown Court, London, Krakow and Shepton Mallet Prison.

 

You will study the following topics:

  • The Sociology of the Family
  • The Sociology of Education
  • Crime and Deviance
  • Social Stratification (Inequality in Society)
  • Research Methods

The course is 100% exam based, with most of the exam based on extended writing.

There are two exam papers, each carrying 50% of the overall GCSE – and each with a duration of 1 hour and 45 minutes.

You must be aged 16 years+ to complete the Level 2 Pathway.

The standard entry requirement is a GCSE profile of grade 3s. However, a minimum of a grade 4 in GCSE English Language/Literature, or another essay-based subject, is highly recommended to ensure the best chance of success.

This programme is, however, also aimed at students who haven’t had the opportunity to sit GCSEs. This could be for several reasons which could include students who have been home-schooled.