GCSE Sociology

Course summary

Sociology is the study of society and of human social life and social relationships. Sociologists consider how key areas of society such as the media, families and the education system influence our behaviour and choices. Students will learn to be analytical, able to weigh up different explanations and theories. On this Sociology GCSE course, students will study the following topics: • Family: The role the family plays in society, how family structures and relationships have changed over time and how government policy has affected the family. • Education: The role the education system plays in society, how factors such as gender and class affect educational achievement and how government policy has affected the education system. • Crime and Deviance: The study of trends in offending, explanations for crime and deviance, analysis of the accuracy of data on crime and debates concerning the best way to control crime. • Social Stratification: The study of social classes within society and why these form, the reasons for socio-economic division, the role of the powerful in society, and how government policy has attempted to control and prevent poverty. • Theory and Methods: Understanding sociology in practise, for example how it is researched and the methods that are used to find data and trends. We also study the sociological theories such as Marxism, Functionalism and Feminism and study the key sociologists who have conducted research. Who should I speak to about this subject? Mrs Edwards – Head of Sociology (nle@cleeveschool.net) OR Mrs Chatten – Head of History (ecc@cleeveschool.net)