The sociology curriculum at Sir John Hunt offers students a dynamic exploration of society and the forces shaping human behaviour. Aligned with the AQA specification, it covers topics such as education, families and households, crime and deviance, social stratification, and research methods. By examining sociological perspectives, including functionalism, Marxism, feminism, and interactionism, students develop a comprehensive understanding of how factors like class, gender, ethnicity, and age influence life experiences. This exploration equips learners with the critical thinking, analytical skills, and theoretical knowledge needed for academic success, further study, and meaningful careers.

Through studying social inequalities, cultural diversity, and social change, students are encouraged to critically evaluate societal structures and their own beliefs, fostering empathy, diversity awareness, and a commitment to social justice. The curriculum is carefully designed to connect theoretical perspectives with real-world applications, helping students build a solid foundation in sociological knowledge. With high expectations for all learners, it promotes academic, personal, and ethical growth, empowering students to engage meaningfully with the world and contribute positively to their communities.

Inequality and Stratification	Identifying and understanding the causes and consequences of inequalities in society, with focus on specific social groups including age, gender, ethnicity and social class.
Social Policy	Understanding the relationship between sociology and social policy, including the success and limitations of legislation in addressing inequalities.
Power and conflict	Identifying and understanding power structures in society and how institutions support, maintain and justify these power imbalances.
Social Change	Understand how certain institutions can act as conservative or radical forces in society, helping to prevent or promote social change
Research Methods	Students will have a developed understanding of how Sociologists research society including an awareness of the strengths and limitations of a wide range of methodological approaches and research design.
Theory	Sociology will provide students with a deep understanding of sociological perspectives and theories including Functionalism, Marxism, Feminism, Social Action Theory and Postmodernism. Students will be confident in outlining and evaluating each of these approaches when applied to specific sociological contexts.

Year 10

Families: Students examine sociological perspectives (Functionalist, Marxist, Feminist), family diversity, the concept of the symmetrical family, and the reasons behind marriage and divorce.

Education: Students learn about different types of schools, the distinction between private and state education, and the reasons behind higher educational success among girls, Asian students, and middle-class pupils.

Research Methods: Students develop their evaluation skills and learn about a range of different research methods used within Sociology, such as observations, case studies, questionnaires and ethnographies.

Year 11

Crime and Deviance: Students examine potential positive implications of crime, how crime is used for social control, and define different types of criminal and deviant behaviour.

Social Stratification: Students learn about the social structure of society, different types of socioeconomic class, distribution of power and authority within society, and the issues of poverty within society.

Research Methods: Students continue to develop their evaluation skills and further apply different research methods to sociological research.

Year 12

Families and Households:  Students develop an understanding of sociological perspectives on the role of families and households, the division of domestic labour, changes in childhood and demographic trends.

Education: Students learn about barriers to achievement in school and inequalities between social groups as well as how social policy and globalisation are impacting the UK education system.

Research Methods:  Students learn about research design in sociology including reliability, validity, replicability and differing sociological views on the nature of sociological research.

Year 13

Crime and Deviance:  Students explore the reasons for crime and deviance, the role of the criminal justice system, differences in offending between social groups, victimology and the effectiveness of crime prevention strategies.

Beliefs in Society:  Students learn about sociological perspectives on the role of religion, secularisation and globalisation and how different social groups interact with religion and the rise of fundamentalism and New Religious Movements.

Research Methods and Sociological Theory: Students develop understanding of research design in sociology including the relationship between sociological research and social policy.