Sociology GCE A Level 3 Block B

Applications Open: - 7th November 2025

Applications Close: - 31st March 2026. If you require any further information after our closing date please do contact nicola.owenhughes@swale.at

Entry Requirements: - Grade 4 and above in 5 GCSEs Including English and Maths for Level 3 programmes, higher grades are required for some subjects

How to Apply: - Please apply via KentChoices

Details of our Pathways and Option Blocks can be seen in the Gallery or viewed here

If you have any questions regarding the Sixth Form, our courses, facilities or our application process, please do contact us, either by telephone (01233 614613) or email (tns-sixthform-team@swale.at). We will be happy to arrange either a telephone call or meeting to answer these. We are happy to forward subject specific questions to subject leaders who may be better placed to answer your queries. We look forward to hearing from you and to meeting you.

This qualification is designed to foster the development of critical and reflective thinking with a respect for social diversity, and to encourage an awareness of the importance of social structure and social action in explaining social issues, such as crime. Throughout the course students are encouraged to develop skills to help them develop an understanding of the relationships between individuals in society; for example, how social inequalities impact on particular groups. We will also explore how institutions in society, such as the family and education, shape personal identity, roles and culture. This subject will develop skills within their sociological understanding and knowledge as well as extended writing skills through critical evaluations of different sociological theories and methodologies.

• Education. The role and functions of the education system, including its relationship to the economy and to class structure.
• The relationship of the family to the social structure and social change, with particular references to the economy and to state policies.
• Crime and deviance. Students are expected to be familiar with sociological explanations of the following content: crime, deviance, social order and social control.
• Beliefs in Society - Students are expected to be familiar with sociological explanations of the following content: Ideology, science and religion, including both Christian and non-Christian religious traditions.

Three exam papers at the end of Year 13

A Level Sociology

Paper 1: Education with Theory and Methods

Paper 2: Topics in Sociology

Paper 3: Crime and Deviance with Theory and Methods

Content - Paper 1 - Education, Methods in Context, Theory and Methods

Content - Paper 2 - A2 - Families and Households, B1 - Beliefs in Society

Content - Paper 3 - Crime and Deviance, Theory and Methods

Assessment – Paper 1 - 2 hour Written Exam, 80 marks, 33.3% of A Level

Assessment – Paper 2 - 2 hour Written Exam, 80 marks, 33.3% of A Level

Assessment – Paper 3 - 2 hour Written Exam, 80 marks, 33.3% of A Level

Questions - Paper 1 - 3 compulsory sections all requiring written answers

Questions - Paper 2 - 2 sections each offering a choice of 4 topics. Students answer 1 Topic from each Section

Questions - Paper 3 - 2 compulsory sections all requiring written answers

Students will require a minimum of five 9-4 grades at GCSE, including English Language and Mathematics at level 5.

As a Sociology student, you'll gain plenty of skills that are sought by employers including research and writing, presentation skills, analysis and the ability for critical thought, working collaboratively with others, developing opinions and new ideas on societal issues and organising your work and meeting deadlines. Common careers for sociologists include police and probation services, local and central government, social and market research, charitable, counselling and voluntary organisations. public relations, journalism and communications, media and marketing and law firms and the criminal justice system.