Current Students Staff Portal

Your courses

Click Apply now above and continue to stage 2 where you can review and choose courses 3 to apply for.

Sociology

Overview

Sociology is the study of social relationships and institutions, and it seeks to understand human behaviours by looking at how external social factors influence us.

In A-Level Sociology, you will study the family, culture, education, media, crime and research methods.

Entry requirements

GCSE - 5 or above in Sociology or a similar subject.

Learning & Assessment

Why study this subject?

Studying Sociology will help you to understand the society that we live in and understand the external factors that influence our behaviours. These will be applied to contemporary examples and will help you to identify and analyse the impact these have on individuals and groups in society. You will develop skills to investigate facts and apply evidence to support your arguments and critical thinking.

What can you expect from this A level?

Studying Sociology will help you to develop a wide range of skills that will benefit you as you progress to your next steps in education or work. You will take part in discussions and debates relating to controversial topics and will develop and apply knowledge of research methods. This will help you develop your ability to investigate facts, apply evidence to support your arguments to make reasoned points, develop new ideas and create opinions on societies issues.

What can you do with a qualification in this subject?

Studying Sociology can lead to a range of exciting degree course such as Sociology, Psychology, English, Business, Law or teaching.

Career options linked to the study of Sociology could include Social Work, Human Resources, Advertising, Policing, Journalism, Teaching and Law.

Assessment

A level Sociology is assessed through three exams, which each last 2 hours.

The exams consist of a range of short answer and extended writing questions.

Paper 1: Education with Theory and Methods.

Paper 2: Culture and Identity.

Paper 3: Crime and Deviance with Theory and Methods

Modules / Topics

Topic 1

Culture and Identity.

Topic 2

Education.

Topic 3

Mass Media.

Topic 4

Crime and Deviance.

Topic 5

Theory and Methods.

Trips / Visits / Enrichment

Trips, Visits & Enrichment

Sociology students benefit from a range of enrichment opportunities that bring topics studied in the classroom to life. Through revision workshops, guest speakers, peer mentoring and university-led session, students gain a deeper understanding of sociology while exploring future study and career pathways.

Visits & Workshops

Mar 27- Tutor2U Revision Workshops - £40
Students have the opportunity to attend specialist Tutor2U workshops focused on key areas of the Sociology specification. These sessions provide expert exam guidance, revision strategies and valuable support for preparing for assessments.

Guest Speakers & Progression Talks

Throughout the year, students hear from professionals and higher education representatives who provide insight into careers, progression opportunities and the real-world application of Sociology.

Guest speakers include:

Police - Multiple Dates
Peer Mentoring - Multiple Dates
Leeds Beckett University - Multiple Dates

These sessions include portfolio advice, career guidance, university application support and practical creative workshops designed to help students plan their next steps.

Enrichment Opportunities

Book Club
Book Club Enrichment is designed to encourage a love of reading and help students develop skills that support success across a range of subjects. Each week, students spend time reading their own chosen books, while also studying a shared novel and taking part in group discussions.

Reading regularly is proven to improve vocabulary, writing style and communication skills, making it particularly valuable for essay-based subjects and higher education study. Through discussion and reflection, students also develop their critical thinking and analytical skills while exploring new ideas and perspectives.

Lily Boyle

Year 12 Student

"Newcastle Sixth Form College as a whole is probably my favourite memory. As someone who came to Newcastle Sixth Form for a fresh start and different subjects, I’m really happy with my decision. The amount of people who go here allows everyone to find a group of people they fit with and I’m very thankful I’ve been able to find such a lovely group. So my best memory is meeting my friends."

Sociologist

Conduct research on social behaviour and cultural trends, utilising surveys, interviews, and observational studies to gather data.
Analyse research findings and publish reports contributing to academic discussions and informing public policy.

Social Worker

Conduct assessments of clients' needs and develop personalised care plans to address social, emotional, and practical challenges.
Advocate for clients within the legal system and connect them with community resources and support services to enhance their well-being.

Community Officer

Work with local communities to identify social issues and mobilize support for initiatives aimed at improving quality of life and social justice.
Plan events, workshops, and campaigns to engage community members and raise awareness about key social issues.

Policy Analyst

Research and analyse social policies and their effects on communities, preparing reports that inform lawmakers and stakeholders.
Evaluate data and collaborate with various stakeholders to provide evidence-based recommendations for policy improvements.

Market Research Analyst

Analyse consumer behaviour and societal trends to provide insights that guide business marketing strategies.
Design and administer surveys to collect public opinion and preferences data, interpreting results to inform decision-making.

Criminologist

Research crime trends and social responses to crime, analysing data to understand the causes and impacts of criminal behaviour.
Collaborate with law enforcement agencies and policy makers to develop strategies that address crime prevention and intervention.

Human Resource Specialist

Manage recruitment, training, and employee relations by understanding social dynamics within the workplace.
Develop programs that promote diversity and inclusion, ensuring a positive organisational culture and employee satisfaction.

Public Relations Officer

Develop and implement communication strategies that shape public perception of organisations and address social issues.
Engage with media and prepare press releases to communicate organisational initiatives and respond to public inquiries.

November Open Evening 2026

Wednesday 4th November 2026
4:30pm - 7:00pm

Find out more

Open Evening - 2nd December 2026

Wednesday 2nd December 2026
4:30pm - 7:00pm

Find out more

16 October 2026

Up and Running - Enrichment Success

This first half term for our Year 12 students has been the most successful ever for our Enrichment programme, which takes places on Tuesday afternoons. With a range of activities covering skills development, social, physical and practical extra curricular, we have over 700 students participating in 42 activities. Ranging from British Sign Language and IBM Cyber Security to Music and Film Production and even Dungeons and Dragons, these weekly sessions are an important part of our ASPIRE programme, and develop the community and ambition of our students in their first couple of weeks as part of NSFC. A major success this year has been our running club, which builds on our sponsorship of the Great North 10k and Great North 5k runs, which happened over the Summer, and saw over 400 participants from across our colleges. The group meet weekly and have both a competitive 5k run, and a less challenging run for those who simply want to get out and get some exercise. Led by Director of Curriculum Kate Gardner, this is a great example of our students engaging in physical activities and working together as a college community. Our first student experience survey illustrated the huge success of a range of our wider enrichments with great reviews of ‘A Taste of China’ for Chinese language beginners, ‘Performance Lab’ where students prepare a Christmas showcase and Film Production which is hosted and managed by a professional production company Digital Sidekick and builds real industry leading skills.

15 October 2026

'Unloc'king our Real Potential - Student Governor Event

A selected group of students, attended a one day conference and selection event to find our new Student Governor, hosted by Unloc, a youth organisation dedicated to empowering young people with programmes designed to develop skills and experience in developing leaders and the student voice. Nadine Dosky, Lauren Dudley, Yasemin Aysa Yildiz and Niamh Richardson attended the event as part of the NSFC group and engaged amazingly throughout the day, gaining valuable experience and eventually selecting Nadine as our next Student Governor for the academic year 2026-2027. The NCG Prospective Student Governors Event was a practical and creative hybrid day that explored the key skills needed for student leadership and representation, with sessions including, ‘being a changemaker,’ ‘creating your pitches’ and ‘selecting your new governors.’ The small group of students from NSFC really benefitted from the activity led by Ben and Kellie from Unloc, and were really grateful to have been selected as potential leaders from among our fabulous students at the sixth form.

9 October 2026

Ready to Aspire

The students at Newcastle Sixth Form College are taking on a new vision for our college community, with the acronym ASPIRE, to help them succeed and really enjoy their A Level experience.

Apply Now Print course information

Your courses

Sociology

Overview

Entry requirements