Specifications that use this resource:

Co-teaching guide

New A-levels have been decoupled from AS, which means AS results do not count towards the A-level results.

The structure and content of the AS and A-level specifications have been designed to facilitate co-teaching where appropriate.

The flexible nature of the specifications enables smooth transition from AS to A-level or from GCSE to A-level and from A-level to Higher Education.

The content taught in both the AS and the first year of the A-level is the same. The AS course represents a strong introduction to the A-level course. The skills developed at AS will be utilised and embedded within the second year of the A-level course. The AS course also serves as an extremely beneficial way of honing the necessary exam skills. Students sitting the standalone AS and A-level can be taught alongside each other in the same class and the same lesson plan can be used to address the needs of both levels.

AS and A-level courses can be structured to suit the needs of individual departments.

 

One year course

Two year course

 

AS

 AS over one year

A-level

 A-level over two years where teachers structure the first year in their own way

A-level

 Where students have studied AS in one year and go onto study A-level

Benefits of AQA's flexible specifications

  • time to develop skills and explore ideas, materials, techniques and processes
  • opportunities for independent learning
  • freedom to select different optional topics for AS and A-level study
  • teachers may structure courses that utilise the knowledge, expertise and resources in their departments
  • teachers may structure courses that respond to the interests and needs of their students
  • enables students to make informed choices for year 13 and beyond
  • opportunities for stretch and challenge.

Co-teaching pathways

Here are some different examples of co-teaching the AS and A-level specifications. They are neither prescriptive nor exhaustive. Courses can be structured in a way that suits you and your students.

AS level: one year

Year 1

Autumn term

Introduction to sociology: students to examine key concepts and theories associated with the study of sociology. This includes: socialisation, nature versus nurture, social control, culture, norms, values, status, roles, globalisation, power and inequality.

Students to study the topic chosen by the centre from the optional topics in the 'Topics in Sociology' component.

The topics are:

  • Culture and Identity,
  • Families and Households,
  • Health,
  • Work, Poverty and Welfare.
Spring term

Students to study Research Methods this includes: practical, ethical and theoretical issues, sampling, interviews, questionnaires, observations, documents, statistics and experiments.

Students will also study the compulsory topic of Education and develop skills to embed Research Methods as part of the Methods in Context section.

Summer term

Students can begin to prepare for the examinations through the consolidation of knowledge and exam skills.

Students to complete two examinations:

Paper one: Education with Methods in Context.

Question types include:

  • short answer questions (2 marks, 2 marks and 6 marks)
  • one free standing essay question used to predominantly develop AO1 skills (10 marks)
  • one essay question linked to an item used to develop all three assessment objectives (20 marks)
  • one Methods in Context question linked to an item (20 marks)

Paper two: Research Methods and Topics in Sociology.

Question types include:

  • one short answer question which is used to assess knowledge of research methods (4 marks)
  • one free standing essay question on research methods (16 marks)

For the topics section there will be short answer questions (2 marks, 2 marks, 6 marks)

  • one free standing essay question (10 marks)
  • one essay question linked to an item (20 marks)

A-level: two years

Year 1

Autumn term

Introduction to sociology – students to examine key concepts and theories associated with the study of sociology. This includes: socialisation, nature versus nurture, social control, culture, norms, values, status, roles, globalisation, power and inequality.

Students to study the topic chosen by the centre from option 1 in the 'Topics in Sociology' component.

The topics are:

  • Culture and Identity,
  • Families and Households,
  • Health,
  • Work, Poverty and Welfare.

Content can largely mirror that of the AS and AS exam questions can be used as practice as the similarity in the form and content of the AS and A-level questions is enough to do so.

Spring term

Students to study Research Methods; this includes: practical, ethical and theoretical issues, sampling, interviews, questionnaires, observations, documents, statistics and experiments.

Students will also study the compulsory topic of Education and develop skills to embed Research Methods as part of the Methods in Context section.

Again AS exam questions can be used as practice though A-level specific questions might be introduced.

Summer term

Students to study research methods and sociological theory. This includes: practical, ethical and theoretical issues, sampling, interviews, questionnaires, observations, documents, statistics and experiments, positivism, interpretivism, value freedom/objectivity, science, functionalism, Marxism, feminism, social action, post-modernity, social policy.

Students to develop skills to meet the demands of the A-level questions. In the A-level, students will be required to write extended essays and will be asked to complete 30 mark questions linked to an item. They will also be required to answer 10 mark questions that require high levels of analysis.

Year 2

Autumn term

Students to study the topic chosen by the centre from option 2 in the 'Topics in Sociology' component.

The topics are:

  • Beliefs in Society
  • Global Development
  • The Media
  • Stratification and Differentiation.
Spring term

Students to study the compulsory topic of Crime and Deviance.

Students to embed and review research methods and theory. This includes: practical, ethical and theoretical issues, sampling, interviews, questionnaires, observations, documents, statistics and experiments, positivism, interpretivism, value freedom/objectivity, science, functionalism, Marxism, feminism, social action, post-modernity, social policy.

Summer term

Students can begin to prepare for the examinations through the consolidation of knowledge and exam skills.

Students to complete three examinations:

Paper one: Education with Theory and Methods.

Question types include:

  • short answer questions on Education (4 marks, 6 marks)
  • one item based question on Education (10 marks)
  • one item based question on Education (30 marks)
  • one Methods in Context question linked to an item (20 marks)
  • one free standing essay question relating to Theory and Methods (10 marks)

Paper two: Topics in Sociology

Question types are the same for both Section A and Section B. They include:

  • one free standing essay question (10 marks)
  • one item based question (10 marks)
  • one item based question (20 marks)

Paper three: Crime and Deviance with Theory and Methods

Question types include:

  • short answer questions on Crime (4 marks, 6 marks)
  • one item based question on Crime (10 marks)
  • one item based question on Crime (30 marks)
  • one free standing question on Theory and Methods (10 marks)
  • one item based question on Theory and Methods (20 marks)

A-level: one year where students have studied AS

Year 1

Autumn term

Students to study the topic chosen by the centre from option 2 in the 'Topics in Sociology' component. The topics are:

  • Beliefs in Society
  • Global Development
  • The Media
  • Stratification and Differentiation.
Spring term

Students to study the compulsory unit of Crime and Deviance.

Students to embed and review Research Methods and theory. This includes: practical, ethical and theoretical issues, sampling, interviews, questionnaires, observations, documents, statistics and experiments, positivism, interpretivism, value freedom/objectivity, science, functionalism, Marxism, feminism, social action, post-modernity, social policy.

Summer term

Students can begin to prepare for the examinations through the consolidation of knowledge and exam skills.

Students to complete three examinations:

Paper one: Education with Theory and Methods

Question types include:

  • short answer questions on Education (4 marks, 6 marks)
  • one item based question on Education (10 marks)
  • one item based question on Education (30 marks)
  • one Methods in Context question linked to an item (20 marks)
  • one free standing essay question relating to Theory and Methods (10 marks)

Paper two: Topics in Sociology

Question types are the same for both Section A and Section B. They include:

  • one free standing essay question (10 marks)
  • one item based question (10 marks)
  • one item based question (20 marks)

Paper three: Crime and Deviance with Theory and Methods.

Question types include:

  • short answer questions on Crime (4 marks, 6 marks)
  • one item based question on Crime (10 marks)
  • one item based question on Crime (30 marks)
  • one free standing question on Theory and Methods (10 marks)
  • one item based question on Theory and Methods (20 marks)