A Level - Sociology

In KS5, our students will explore the ways in which we learn the rules of human behaviour and examine the differences between the way of life in the contemporary UK and life in other cultures. Students will develop understanding of how class, gender, ethnicity, age, nationality, sexuality and disability influence our identities and opportunities in society. They will uncover the extent and effects of social inequality in the UK which means the gap in power, wealth and opportunities between social groups, such as the gender pay gap. Students will study the ways in which education, the media and the economy affect young people. Our students will investigate UK youth subcultures such as skinheads, goths, Rastafarians, mods and punks. They will research incredible case studies of feral children abandoned by their parents and forced to live amongst animals. Our students will discover and debate a range of explanations for why young people join gangs and turn to crime, such as grime music, poverty and a lack of positive role models. They will find out why some people argue that in society today they can ‘identify’ as black regardless of their biological race. Our students will take part in discussions concerning new social movements against racism and sexism such as #MeToo, #BlackLives Matter and decide whether eco-warriors, like Greta Thunberg and Extinction Rebellion are right to declare a ‘climate emergency’.

From September 2026, we will follow the new, ‘refreshed’ OCR A level Sociology specification. It consists of three external A level exam papers which students will take at the end of Year 13.

As an OCR A level Sociology ambassador school, we are a centre of excellence in A level teaching and the development of resources. We encourage our students to engage with a range of super-curricular activities such as entering essay competitions, writing blogs and presenting on podcasts. We have close links with a range of universities and strive to host workshops and lectures with professors and academics. We encourage our students to read and watch content beyond our GCSE and A level specifications and we promote this to nurture a deeper enjoyment of Sociology and related topics such as History, Politics, Geography and Economics.

Curriculum Overview by Year Group and Term