Social Sciences - Psychology, Sociology and Criminology

Back to ks3/4 subjects Back to ks5 subjects

KS4: GCSE Psychology

Vision Statement

Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and of human behaviour, and aims to explain why people behave in the ways that they do. Keen to understand the influences which affect every individual in each decision that they make, psychology is a subject which explores the many explanations for human actions and reactions. For centuries, Psychologists have aimed to understand historical atrocities such as World War 2 and the Holocaust, as well as the mental health disorders in the modern day.

Psychology is a scientific subject, meaning there are strong links to both understanding and conducting research in the form of experiments and observations, as well as recording and analysing data using mathematical skills.

The department is looking for inquisitive young minds with a keen interest in understanding the workings of the human mind, and the behaviour of themselves and others around them.

Course Outline/Assessment Methods

The course is comprised of 2 papers which will be completed at the end of year 11.

Paper 1: Cognition and Behaviour - 1 hour 45 minutes

Memory
Perception
Development
Research methods

Paper 2: Social Context and Behaviour - 1 hour 45 minutes

Social influence
Language, thought and communication
Brain and neuropsychology
Psychological problems

Linked Sixth Form Courses:

Sport
Sociology
Business
Early Years Education
Health & Social Care

Future Course/ Career Opportunities:

All future careers have a link to psychology, as there are so many fields within psychology examining human and even animal behaviour. Many careers linking to psychology are involved in helping people in some way or another, but they also be about helping businesses to improve their products to serve people better. Careers may include:

Psychiatry
Teaching
Counselling
Motivational
Coaching
Recruitment/ HR
Police/ Forensics
User Experience

Departmental Performance:

First results expected Summer 2026.

KS4: GCSE Sociology

Vision Statement

At the Hundred of Hoo Academy, we place great emphasis on offering a broad curriculum that encompasses the academic and the social development of our pupils.

Sociology is a subject that develops both the academic and social understanding of those that study it. Sociology is described as ‘the scientific study of human group behaviour’: it is the study of the social part of us, and the patterns of interaction with other people which is necessary to our very existence. We all participate in any number of social groups, many of which overlap. and ‘the application of scientific methods of inquiry to the puzzles of social life’.

Sociologists study how and why these groups interact with each other and how the interactions affect their members. Such analyses not only gives a clearer understanding of society and all of its components, but also allow sociologists to see both the causes and the possible solutions for our social problems.

The department is looking for inquisitive young minds with a keen interest in understanding how society works and both accepting and debating the views of others regarding how and why we interact within the varying societies around the world.

Course Outline/Assessment Methods

The course is comprised of 2 components, both of which must be completed. Both components will be examined through two external examinations.

Component 1

Key concepts and processes of cultural transmission
Families
Education
Research Methods

Component 2

Social differentiation and stratification
Crime and Deviance
Applied methods of sociological enquiry

Skills for Success:

Knowledge retention skills
Critical analysis
Evaluation
The ability to apply external knowledge to sociological concepts

Future Course/ Career Opportunities:

Journalism
Teaching
Anthropologist
Politics
Researcher
Social services
Criminal justice

Departmental Performance:

2022/23: 9-4 = 40%
2021/22: 9-4 = 57%
2020/21: 9-4 = 94%

KS5: BTEC Criminology

Vision Statement

The Social Sciences department at the Hundred of Hoo Academy is proud to offer a curriculum which allows students to develop not only their academic skills, but also their personal and social understanding of the world around them.

The purpose of this course is to provide students with an introduction to criminal justice and to give a context for humanities learning. Within the Changing Awareness of Crime unit, students will be guided to consider how not all types of crime are alike. Therefore, what different types of crime take place in our society? What kinds of crime exist about which we know very little, or which are simply not reported to the police and the media? Within the Criminological Theories unit, pupils question how do we decide what behaviour is criminal? What is the difference between criminal behaviour and deviance? How do we explain why people commit crime? The Crime Scene to Courtroom unit interrogates the process of conducting criminal investigations right through to a criminal trial. Finally, the Crime and Punishment unit develops skills in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the process of social control in delivering policy in practice, technologies in historical and contemporary contexts, societies and cultures.

Course Outline/Assessment Methods

Criminology is an A Level only course that covers a range of topics and has two examined units as well as two Controlled Assessment units.

Unit 1: Changing Awareness of Crime - 25%

8 hour internal controlled assessment

The purpose of this unit is for learners to plan campaigns for change relating to crime.

Unit 2: Criminological Theories - 25%

1 hour 30 mins external exam

The purpose of this unit is for learners to examine how criminological theories and campaigns are used to set policy.

Unit 3: Crime Scene to Courtroom - 25%

8 hour internal controlled assessment

Through this unit, learners will examine and review the use of evidence as a way of gaining justice through verdicts in criminal cases.

Unit 4: Crime and Punishment

1 hour 30 mins external exam

In this unit, learners will examine punishment and theories which underpin it.

Skills for Success:

Independent working skills
Knowledge of crime
Critical analysis of theories
An ability to apply learning to real life criminal contexts and examples
Problem-solving
The skills of project based research, development and presentation

Future Course/ Career Opportunities:

Legal profession
Uniformed services
Forensics
International Aid, development worker, social researcher
Community development worker
Further education lecturer
Social worker
Youth worker

Criminology works well alongside biology, chemistry, sociology and/or psychology, but can be studied in its own.

Departmental Performance:

2022/23: A*-C = 57%
2021/22: A*-E = 94%

KS5: A Level Psychology

Vision Statement

Psychology has a responsibility to enable individuals to understand the mind, brain and behaviour of others. Within the Hundred of Hoo Academy, Psychology lessons encourage students to go beyond their immediate experience of passive living and analyse the behaviour of others around them. Psychology creates critical thinkers. Students develop the skills to evaluate their own views, in light of evidence provided to them through theories and studies. They are challenged to develop an independent approach to thought and inquiry that is transferable to any discipline or situation. Psychology empowers students to open their eyes to the world and challenge ideas in a safe and relaxed environment, and to develop confidence in making judgements of others. At the Hundred of Hoo Academy, teachers of Psychology encourage excellent academic progress, in addition to personal growth.

Psychology is not only a fascinating subject, but it is also a challenging A-Level which is now classified as a Science A-Level. As such, students will additionally be assessed on their mathematical skills, and scientific research methods are taught throughout the course, with an opportunity for students to plan and carry out their own research at the end of year 12. The Psychology A-Level is examined at the end of Year 13 through three written examination papers.

Course Outline/Assessment Methods

Paper 1: Introductory Topics in Psychology - 33.3% (96 marks)

Written examination, 2 hours

Social Influence
Memory
Attachment
Psychopathology

Paper 2: Psychology in Context - 33.3% (96 marks)

Written examination, 2 hours

Approaches in Psychology
Biopsychology
Research Methods

Paper 3: Issues and Options in Psychology - 33.3% (96 marks)

Written examination, 2 hours

Issues and Debates
Option 1: Relationships or Gender
Option 2: Stress or Schizophrenia
Option 3: Addiction

Skills for Success:

Analytical thinking
Improved communication
Problem-solving
Planning and conducting scientific investigations

Future Course/ Career Opportunities:

Legal profession
Academic/Education
Psychologist
Human Resources
Forensic Psychology
Occupational Therapy
Nursing

Psychology works well alongside many of our options, but especially well with Sociology, Criminology, Biology, History and Health and Social Care

Departmental Performance:

First results due in 2024.

KS5: A Level Sociology

Vision Statement

Sociology is the study of the social part of us, the pattern of interaction with other people which is necessary to our very existence. We all participate in any number of social groups, many of which overlap. Sociologists study how and why these groups interact with each other and how the interactions affect their members. Such analyses not only yields a clearer understanding of society and its components, but also allow sociologists to see both the causes and the possible remedies for our social problems.

Sociology has been described as ‘the scientific study of human group behaviour’ and ‘the application of scientific methods of inquiry to the puzzles of social life’, whilst others believe that we are too complex and the impacts of our thoughts, feelings and emotions are too impactful for us to be studied in the same ways as science. Although the A-Level is Sociology does not sit alongside other Science A-Levels, it is essential that students of the subject have inquisitive minds with a keen interest in how society works and the view of others regarding how and why we interact within it.

Course Outline/Assessment Methods

Paper 1: Education with theory and methods - 33.3% (80 marks)

Written examination, 2 hours

The role and functions of the education system and how it impacts on different social groups.
How sociologists conduct their studies and the positive and negative aspects of different types of research.

Paper 2: Topics in sociology - 33.3% (80 marks)

Written examination, 2 hours

Families and households: the relationship of the family to the social structure and social change.
Beliefs in society: the relationship between social change and social stability, and religious beliefs, practices and organisations.

Paper 3: Crime and deviance with theory and methods - 33.3% (80 marks)

Written examination, 2 hours

Explanations of crime, deviance and social order, the social distribution of crime and how it is surveyed by the government.
How sociologists conduct their studies and the positive and negative aspects of different types of research. How these directly impact on the study of crime.

Skills for Success:

Appreciation of the complexity and diversity of social situations
Applying sociological theory to society’s organisations
Researching, judging and evaluating complex information
Making reasoned arguments
Knowledge and understanding of research methods, analysis and statistical techniques