Sociology

 
 

Studying Sociology allows the learners understanding of the world to move beyond the simple everyday explanations.  Sociology is commonly misunderstood as common sense, whereas it is better described as a research discipline. One that is underpinned with the core principles of enquiry, both scientific and interpretivist. Sociology extends the learners understanding of their identify and widens their cultural capital to include critical theories and radical social perspectives. Our curriculum allows students to challenge information, form critical questions and to step away from a simple or one-dimensional explanations of social phenomena. Learners develop skills in questioning, analysing, and thinking critically. Our curriculum not only allows for questioning our world, but also challenging the answers which are commonly presented to such questions. Our approach to teaching and learning builds upon the science of learning, our curriculum is naturally spaced to allow for the interleaving of knowledge. There are regular opportunities for both low stakes knowledge reviews and formal assessments of progress. We integrate the 4Rs into our classroom practice and more extensively into our revision frameworks. Our learners’ benefit from the experience of Sociology because they better understand themselves and their society. The optional units we have selected serve to widen the learners’ understanding of issues in the modern world, including economic models of social systems and the legacy of colonialism. By the time they have finished our course most of our learners are critical thinkers who are ready for the next step in their academic pathway.

Subject Overview