Social Sciences
Criminology
This Level 3 qualification will appeal to students who are interested in criminal justice and may be considering careers in areas such as the Police, the legal system, teaching, social work, the Prison service and the Probation service.
Criminology contains elements of Psychology, Law and Sociology; which will complement subjects such as History and English.
This is an applied general qualification. This means it has two internal assessment points and two external exams over two years.
Criminology is a fascinating subject which looks at issues such as:
- Analysing criminal behaviour
- Theories of why people commit crime
- How does a courtroom work?
- Cyber crime
- Hate crimes
- Honour crimes
- How the media influences which crimes we report
What units you study?
- Introduction to Criminological Theories
- Changing Awareness of Crime
- Crime Scene to Courtroom
- Crime and Punishment
Students must complete ALL units
What Qualifications do I need?
You will need normal College entry qualifications and will also need to attain 5 or higher in GCSE English Literature or Language and 4 or higher in GCSE Mathematics.
Contact: Mrs N Knight
Psychology
Examination board – AQA (7182)
AS and A-level Psychology Specification Specifications for first teaching in 2015 (aqa.org.uk)
Psychology is a science for University applications and is an intriguing and fascinating subject. It is a study of the human mind and behaviour, why people behave the way they do and what makes us tick.
- How does a seemingly calm person turn violent?
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Would you hurt someone just because you were told to?
- How does your childhood affect the adult you become?
What will I study?
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Social influence
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Memory
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Attachment
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Psychopathology
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Approaches in Psychology
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Biopsychology
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Research methods
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Issues and debates in Psychology
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Schizophrenia
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Aggression
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Relationships
How will I be assessed?
Paper 1: Introductory Topics in Psychology
- Written exam - 2 hours
- 96 marks in total
- 33.3% of total A-level assessment
Topics include:
- Social influence
- Memory
- Attachment
- Psychopathology
Paper 2: Paper 2: Psychology in Context
- Written exam - 2 hours
- 96 marks in total
- 33.3% of total A-level assessment
Topics include:
- Approaches in Psychology
- Biopsychology
- Research methods
Paper 3: Issues and Options in Psychology
- Written exam - 2 hours
- 96 marks in total
- 33.3% of total A-level assessment
Topics include:
- Schizophrenia
- Aggression
- Relationships
- Issues and debates in Psychology
Subjects that compliment Psychology
- Biology
- PE
- Sociology
- Criminology
Recommended reading:
- Psychopath test by Jon Ronson
Recommended watching:
Recommended listening:
- Invisibilia Podcast
What qualifications do I need?
- Standard College entry qualifications: Five GCSEs at grade 4 or above, must include Mathematics.
- Subject specific entry qualifications: 5 or higher in GCSE English Literature or Language.
Where it leads/ what students say
Psychology graduates have one of the highest employment rates of any subject! You can use it for social work, the police, education, advertising, counselling, mental health nursing, and many more....
What do current Post 16 students say about it?
- "Psychology is a really great subject as the lessons aren’t only interesting and engaging but also fun."
- "Help and support is always available if I need it."
- "Lessons are relaxed, friendly and enjoyable but simultaneously stimulating and motivational."
- ‘Psychology is my favourite subject and I always look forward to it”
- “The topics are all really interesting and you get to see the world in a different perspective. The teachers are really helpful and supportive,”
- “I am so glad that I took Psychology. I was debating whether to take it at the beginning of the year but a few weeks into it I loved it. The teachers are so supportive. I would definitely recommend it.”
Contact: Mrs N Knight
Sociology
Board – AQA
Should women stay at home and look after young children? Should men stay at home and look after young children? Why is there a fence round the college? Is it a child’s fault if they fail in school, or is it the school’s fault? Is Britain a racist society? How do the rich stay rich? Why don’t we go to church any more? Why do young people get involved in gang culture? Can we defeat terrorism? Are prisons a soft option these days? Are people on benefits all “scroungers”?
These are the sorts of issues you will be expected to write essays about on the newly restructured Sociology A level course, as well as studying the research methods used by Sociologists, ranging from questionnaires and interviews to ethically questionable undercover filming operations. Asking the right questions is at least as important as finding the right answers... and is there always a “right” answer anyway?
Where it leads
Sociology A level is recommended for careers such as Nursing, Teaching, Social Work and Police Work, but it also involves current affairs, political opinions and an element of philosophical speculation about human nature – it is one of the broadest A levels you can do and it goes well with almost any subject combination.
What students say
"It is a really interesting, fun and enjoyable lesson which all students are respected and treated like individuals. The teacher truly cares about the success and well-being of the students in his class. By doing so, all the students feel as if they are really cared about and that they can always talk and confide in the teacher.”
You will need normal College entry qualifications and will also need to attain 5 or higher in GCSE English Literature or Language and 4 or higher in GCSE Mathematics.
Contact: Mr Webster