Sociology Department

WELCOME TO THE SOCIOLOGY DEPT

The sociology department strives to promote, foster and encourage pupils’ interest, knowledge, understanding and participation in the nature and understanding of history.
The department aims to provide an enriching, positive and rewarding experience for all pupils and ensure that they achieve their full potential regardless of gender, culture, class, or ethnic origin; by this, making sociology accessible to all, using differentiation throughout its delivery Key Stage 4 & 5.
At Key Stage 4 the department and its members will deliver the National Curriculum for Key Stage 4, the sociology department uses AQA Examining Board. When the pupils progress into the Sixth Form they undertake an AS and A2 GCE in sociology that is examined by OCR.
Pupils will be taught the following skills in the above-mentioned themes in Key Stage 4:

Breadth and Depth of study
To question evidences and evaluate the information
Knowledge and understanding of events, people and changes in the past
Understanding of social structures processes and issues.
Reading and writing
Understanding, interpreting and analysing texts
Speaking, listening, discussion and debate
Research, fact-finding, for example, ICT
Reflect in personal experiences and examine their place in society.
Organisation and communication

Pupils will be taught the following skills in the above-mentioned themes in Key Stage 5

Acquire knowledge and understanding of contemporary social processes and structures
Appreciate the significance of theoretical and conceptual issues
Understand sociological methodology and a range of research methods
Reflect on personal experiences and develop an understanding and tolerance of cultural diversity
Develop skills that they can utilise as an adult and apply it to their everyday life
Reading and writing
Understanding, interpreting and analysing texts
Speaking, listening, discussion and debate
Research, fact-finding, for example, ICT
Reflect in personal experiences and examine their place in society.
Organisation and communication

Rationale
Sociology is the study of human society; it embraces a variety of opinions all of which, however, share the common pursuit of increasing our understanding of the social world. Sociology places the individual within a social context. It is concerned with the study of social structures, processes and issues. In pursuit of this study it has developed a unique and distinctive range of concepts applicable to any human society. Therefore, sociology is taught to the highest standard throughout all of the Key Stage’s.

Aims:
The Sociology department aim to:

Ensure access to the curriculum for ALL pupils regardless of academic and physical ability, race, class, language, culture, religion or special educational needs.
Ensure a broad, balanced, relevant and differentiated range of educational experiences for ALL pupils
Provide an environment where all pupils are respected and valued and their uniqueness recognised and celebrated, which is secure, welcoming and safe.
Recognise that all pupils have a valuable contribution to make to the learning process and each other’s success, safety and well being.
Educate against and challenge ignorance, prejudice and discrimination.
Recognise and address but never condone the existence of racism and sexism in society.
Help prepare all pupils for adult life and the world of work in a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic society
Raise an awareness of the existence and needs of those who suffer prejudice and discrimination
Celebrate and reflect the cultural, ethnic and religious diversity of the school and community
Respond and relate to the requirements of the schools equal opportunity policy

Guidelines and strategies
In order for al pupils to obtain maximum benefit from the Sociology curriculum the department will:

Select, use and continue to develop teaching and learning resources, which are not bias in their images of people
Avoid using language and graphics which reinforces stereotype roles of men and women in society
See to provide opportunities for pupils to meet and/or learn about men and women who have a typical roles in the world of work and society
Seek to use role models effectively from within the curriculum, the school, environment and society
Endeavour to guide pupils in their choice of tasks towards context and activities, which do not reinforce stereotypes and extend their capability and range of interests beyond conventional horizons
Avoid race, class, language, culture, gender, physical ability or religion stereotyping or bias in learning strategies, resources and assessment procedures
Encourage co-operative group work in which pupils learn to value each other’s contributions
Seek to provide pupils with an opportunity to experience, learn from and respect diversity and cultural experiences, perspectives and view points
Ensure that ALL pupils contribute confidently during lessons and participate in practical activities
Identify, assess, refer and target pupils with Special Educational Needs or English as an additional language Need in line with School Policies
Respond and act in line with the School’s Behaviour Policy if there is an accident involving physical or verbal abuse
Challenge any sexist and racist language or incident
Ensure that display and resources reflect the multi-ethnic and multi-cultural School, society and world which we work and live

Department Statement:
The department aims to do this by:

Encouraging projects, which provide opportunities for pupils to develop their own interest and encourage personal research and input into projects and group work
Ensure positive promotion of the role of women in society
Providing a bright, safe and stimulating atmosphere and environment
Offering support in pupils’ intentions to take non-traditional routes for jobs or careers
Seeking parental support
Seeking to prevent links with women from industry
Developing pupils’ confidence at investigative, exercises
Having open access to facilities.