Social Science
Curriculum Intent – Sociology
he intent of the Blue Coat School Sociology curriculum is to engage, inspire and challenge students, equipping them with specific Sociology knowledge and skills. These include the use of evidence to support arguments, how to investigate facts and critical thinking. This will be via a broad and ambitious set of learning opportunities linked to the whole school CHRIST values and will offer students the opportunity to develop confidence and competence in sociological theories, perspectives and methods. Students will also acquire knowledge and a critical understanding of contemporary social processes and social changes; appreciate the significance of theoretical and conceptual issues in sociological debate; understand and evaluate sociological methodology and a range of research methods through active involvement in the research process; develop skills that enable them to focus on their own personal identity, roles and responsibilities with society and to develop a lifelong interest in social issues. We aim to develop our student’s knowledge and understanding of Sociological areas, such as Education, Crime and Deviance, Families and Households & Beliefs in society. Finally, we aim to develop students who are able to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of sociological theories, concepts and evidence, as well as research methods; that they can apply this knowledge to a range of issues and that they can analyze and evaluate this knowledge to present arguments, make judgements and draw conclusions. Excellence within Sociology would mean each pupil leaving Blue Coat School with a sound grasp of the content outlined by AQA but also students who are able to think critically and reflectively; have an awareness of social structure and social action and students that have been encouraged through their study of Sociology to actively engage with the contemporary social world. Our subject allows all students to develop socially through collaborative tasks, yet also to develop the confidence to work individually and demonstrate the skills of application, analysis and evaluation. Our intention is that all learners, whatever their prior attainment, will experience a challenging curriculum, that builds them in scaffolded stages towards becoming a confident and socially aware individuals. Sociology is an area which is attractive to students themselves, as well as future academic institutions and employers, because it develops a range of valuable skills, including critical and analytical thinking, writing ability, cultural competence, and self-awareness. These skills are particularly relevant to young people and are transferable to further study and the workplace. Students will be enabled to use this classroom learning beyond school and apply them to a range of real world situations.
Curriculum Intent – Psychology
The intent of our A-Level Psychology curriculum is to engage, inspire and challenge students, equipping them with specific Psychology knowledge and skills. These include critical analysis, independent thinking and research. This will be via a broad and ambitious set of learning opportunities linked to the whole school CHRIST values and will offer students the opportunity to develop competence and confidence in a variety of practical, mathematical and problem solving skills. Students will also understand how society makes decisions and different issues and how the sciences contribute to the success of the economic and the wider society. We aim to develop our students’ knowledge and understanding of Psychology areas, such as memory, social influence, attachment and schizophrenia. In addition to this wide raging subject knowledge, they will develop general scientific ideas, processes, techniques and procedures and learn to apply this learning in both a theoretical and practical context. Finally, we aim to develop students who are able to analyse, interpret and evaluate information, ideas and evidence, to make judgements and reach conclusions and develop and refire practical design and procedures. Excellence within Psychology would mean each pupil learning Blue Coat School with a sound grasp of scientific processes and techniques, a questioning mind and the ability to make judgments and reach conclusions for themselves. Our subject allows all students to develop socially through collaborative tasks, yet also develop the confidence to work individually and solve problems. Our intention is that all learners, whatever their prior attainment will experience a challenging curriculum, that builds them in scaffolded stages towards becoming confident and questioning individuals. Psychology develops a range of valuable skills, including critical analysis, independent thinking and research. These skills are particularly relevant to young people and are transferable to further study and the workplace. Students will be enabled to use this classroom learning beyond school and apply them to a range of problems in the real world.
Curriculum Intent – Health & Social Care
The intent of our Health and Social Care curriculum is to engage, inspire and challenge students, equipping them with specific Health and Social Care knowledge and skills. This will be via a broad and ambitious set of learning opportunities linked to the whole school CHRIST values, this will allow us to develop well rounded learners who go on to have a positive impact on the wider world through their Health and Social Care learning. It will also offer students the opportunity to develop competence and confidence in Health and Social Care knowledge and understanding (the cognitive domain) with practical and technical skills (the psychomotor domain). This is achieved through learners performing vocational tasks that encourage the development of appropriate vocational behaviours (the affective domain) and transferable skills. We aim that our subject will allow us to develop our students’ knowledge and understanding of Health and Social Care areas such as the human life-span and its development, health and well-being and the services offered within the umbrella of health and social care. In addition to this wide-ranging subject knowledge, they will develop problem-solving skills through the use of critical thinking by approaching and applying solutions to non-routine problems; intrapersonal skills by communicating, working collaboratively, negotiating and influencing and finally they will develop interpersonal skills through their self-management, adaptability and resilience, self-monitoring and development. Excellence within Health and Social Care would mean each pupil within the subject leaving Blue Coat with significant levels of care, compassion and skills in communication and collaboration. Our subject allows all students to develop socially through collaborative tasks, yet also develop the confidence to work individually and solve problems. Our intention is that all learners, whatever their prior attainment will experience a challenging curriculum, that builds them in scaffolded stages towards becoming confident and caring individuals. Health and Social Care is an area which is attractive to students themselves, as well as future academic institutions and employers, because it develops a range of valuable skills, including communication, research and analysis. These skills are particularly relevant to young people and are transferable to further study and the workplace. Students will be enabled to use this classroom learning beyond school and apply them to a range of problems in the real world, especially when taking their first steps towards a new career. This subject offers the right blend of technical and academic skills for students to become the highly skilled, work-ready individuals’ employers and universities look for.