Curriculum Intent

The 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 analyse 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.