Social Science

Head of Department

Subject Overview

In the Social Sciences students have the option to study Health and Social Care, Psychology and/or Sociology at A Level. These subjects focus on understanding people and their relationship with the society around them. Students develop a range of skills related to the carrying out of social research and the critical analysis and evaluation of classic and modern studies.

Students may take part in psychological experiments (for example – on memory), role plays (for example – one to one and group communications), and give a range of presentations in class. Health and Social Care students undertake work experience placements to a number of local Health and Social Care settings (for example – nurseries, primary schools, residential homes and day care centres).

Key Stage 4:

GCSE Sociology AQA:

This GCSE requires students to sit two written exams at the end of Year 11 covering the following topics:

Unit 1: Studying Society; Education; Families and Households. 1 hour 30 minutes, 90 marks, 50% of the final mark.

Unit 2: Crime and Deviance; Mass Media; Social Inequality. 1 hour 30 minutes, 90 marks, 50% of the final mark.

Key Stage 5:

Psychology AQA Specification A:

Why do we fall in love? What brings some people to commit murder? Are apes intelligent? How do computer games influence our minds?

Psychology is the scientific study of human thought and behaviour – how we think, feel, act and interact individually and in groups. Psychologists are interested in what makes people tick and how this understanding can help solve major problems in society. They study human behaviour by observing, measuring and testing, then arriving at conclusions that are rooted in sound scientific methodology.

Throughout the course students will learn about how the mind works, how we interact with the environment and others, and how psychologists have used scientific techniques to try and answer the above questions and many more.

The following are the exams in Year 13:

Paper 1 – Introductory topics in psychology

Paper 2 –Psychology in context

Paper 3 –Issues and options in psychology

Sociology AQA:

The A Level course is examined by three papers at the end of Year 13 covering the following topics:

Paper 1: Education with Theory & Methods. 2 hour written exam, 80 marks, 33% of the A Level certificate.

Paper 2: Families & Global Development. 2 hour written exam, 80 marks, 33% of the A Level certificate.

Paper 3: Crime & Deviance with Theory and Methods. 2 hour written exam, 80 marks, 33% of the A Level certificate.

Health and Social Care OCR:

Students study the Cambridge Technical Level 3 Extended Diploma, equivalent to three A Levels. The course is assessed by coursework assignments covering a mandatory core of the following units:

1) Effective Communication in Health and Social Care

2) Equality, Diversity and Rights in Health and Social Care

3) Health, Safety and Security in Health and Social Care

4) Development through the Life Stages.

5) Anatomy and Physiology for Health and Social Care

6) Sociological Perspectives for Health and Social Care

7) Psychological Perspectives for Health and Social Care.

Students also take part in Work Experience placements in a range of care settings in both Years 12 and 13 completing a minimum of 100 hours