GCSE Sociology

Course Description:

Sociology is a dynamic and thought-provoking subject in which you will examine familiar themes, such as families and education, in completely new ways. The GCSE course explores challenging and sometimes controversial social questions. Why are some social groups at greater risk of poverty than others? Why do girls tend to achieve better exam results than boys? What drives people to commit crimes? How and why has family life changed in recent years? Does social class still matter? We also investigate key sociological theories and studies as well as the research methods used by sociologists to carry out their research. 

Sociology is a highly rewarding subject to study. Students achieve the best results when they approach it with an open mind, a willingness to approach social issues from different angles and to engage positively in class discussion. This is a demanding, exam-based GCSE course that requires good literacy and strong written and verbal communication skills.

Course Units

ear 10:

  • The sociological approach including: key theories, concepts and research methods
  • Families, with methods in context
  • Education, with methods in context

Year 11:

  • Crime and Deviance, with methods in context
  • Social Stratification, with methods in context

Assessment:

2 x written exams, each worth 50% of the GCSE
Each paper is 1 hour 45 minutes (100 marks)
There is no coursework

Why should I study this course?

Sociology will change the way you see the world around you. If you are fascinated by human behaviour, culture and society, if you want to work with people in the future, or if you have big plans to change the world, then sociology is the subject for you!

Student Quote:

‘When I first started GCSE sociology, the subject was completely new to me. Now I really enjoy it and I am glad that I picked sociology. My favourite part of the course is Crime and Deviance because I like learning about why people are labelled as ‘deviant’. It’s very interesting.’ Suzie

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