Sociology

The A level Sociology course at Harris Academy Bermondsey offers an engaging and effective introduction to Sociology.

In a broadly vertical curriculum, students learn the fundamentals of the subject and develop skills valued by higher education institutes. These skills include analysis and evaluation. The units taught across the course are synoptic which allows students to flourish and develop their minds into a Sociological way of thinking.

The course allows students to develop skills, including critical analysis, independent thinking and research. In places, the curriculum will segment and address issues of current pertinence to the student: the specification has up to date research which students find stimulating and engaging.

The current topics which are taught are education and theory with social research methods, culture and identity and beliefs in society, and finally crime and deviance with theory and methods.

The Sociology course is relevant to students’ lives. It offers them a different perspective on society and makes them question the way society is structured and how different social groups interact daily in different elements of social life. 

Topics such as education enable students to think differently about the education system which they are actively part of. It also allows for them to gain a deeper understanding of the ways in which different elements of it operate, this ranges from the social class divide and the explanations for this to educational policy and how this has changed the face of education over time.

The depth of Sociological research in the AQA specification means that students can apply it to their studies and relate it to contemporary life. The intent of the Sociology specification is to foster an appreciation for the subject as a discipline and develop students’ awareness of the academia behind it. As there may be gaps in the cultural capital of students, this course allows for students to develop their understanding of social groups, including why people are of a different social class, different ethnicity and the extent to which this may impact their lives.

The curriculum plan for all years can be downloaded below.