Criminology

Subject Aims 

Intent – What we are trying to achieve?

Our intent is to provide a fluid and dynamic knowledge rich sixth form option curriculum, which gives learners, access and progress to universities or the world of work.

Students will embark on a journey through crime studying the different types of crime, the theories behind why people commit crime to collating evidence and finally our justice system. Students will understand the criminal justice system which impacts on their own behaviour and conduct in UK society. It requires students to consider how the use and application of their learning impacts on themselves, other individuals, employers, society, and the environment. Ultimately students will develop a critical and focused criminological mind. The course is logically planned and sequenced towards cumulatively sufficient knowledge and skills for future learning whilst building on their experiences from their previous learning. The WJEC Level 3 Applied Diploma in Criminology will provide students with an introduction to criminal justice through a scientific study of criminal behaviour and give a context for humanities learning. It is a qualification with elements of psychology, health and social care, law and sociology so therefore complement studies in other social sciences and humanities. The curriculum is designed to offer exciting and interesting experiences that focus learning for students through applied learning. 

The applied nature of the course allows students to learn in such a way that they develop skills required for independent learning and development, a range of generic and transferable skills such as critical thinking, and report writing and time management, the ability to solve problems, the skills of project-based research, development and presentation, the ability to work alongside others and the ability to apply learning in vocational contexts. Throughout the course students will be expected to work independently as reading/researching around topics areas is vital to further develop knowledge and understanding. This is encouraged through keeping up to date with the latest news and watching television documentaries. Many students do this anyway as they have a personal interest in this genre to start with. Criminology is a popular subject with the media so there is always a wealth of information to be gained from these sources and students are keen to do this in their own time. 

This insight will enable students to make informed decisions about potential future career routes. Criminology students have numerous different career options at their fingertips. Exciting roles include in immigration, education, law enforcement, people protection, community planning, advocacy, policing, consulting, public administration, and international development.

 
Implementation – How do we translate our vision into practice?

It is accessible for all student destinations and is graded A*-E with the Diploma giving equivalent UCAS points as a conventional A-level.

The first unit (1: Changing Awareness) will enable the students to demonstrate understanding of different types of crime, influences on perceptions of crime and why some crimes are unreported. The second unit (2: Criminological Theories) will allow students to gain an understanding of why people commit crime, drawing on what they have learned in Unit 1. Students only completing these two units may be awarded the Applied Certificate.

To gain the Applied Diploma students study a further two units and draw upon their knowledge developed in the first year of the course. The third unit (3: Crime Scene to Courtroom) will provide an understanding of the criminal justice system from the moment a crime has been identified to the verdict. Students will develop the understanding and skills needed to examine information in order to review the justice of verdicts in criminal cases. In the final unit (4: Crime and Punishment), students will apply their understanding of the awareness of criminality, criminological theories and the process of bringing an accused to court in order to evaluate the effectiveness of social control to deliver criminal justice policy.

Extra-curricular and enrichment opportunities are built into the course to consolidate knowledge and provide valuable educational and social growth. We have external speakers in areas of policing and domestic violence, external visits to Parliament and the Supreme Court as well as chances to participate in debates and class-based police investigations. Independent learning is promoted via provision of news stories linked to the course, articles book and wider watching.

The units are taught sequentially and have a synoptic element with some topics coming up later in the course. The course is well resourced with the latest WJEC approved textbooks available to students together with Napier press workbook for each unit. In addition, the students have access to a wide range of teacher created resources such as knowledge organisers, revision tools and power points. Tools such as exemplars and scaffolding documents help to promote progress in both high achievers and lower ability students.

Unit 1 and 3 are formally assessed through open book-controlled assessment tasks undertaken exam conditions over several days in an IT room. Conversely Unit 2 and 4 are assessed through a two-hour external examination. This means the course is suitable for different types of learners. The nature of Unit 1 and 3 also helps to promote self-organisation, independent learning and wider reading. Units 2 & 4 meanwhile foster those skills more relevant to formal examinations. Holistically, the course helps prepare students to cultivate all those skills needed to excel at university and beyond.

This course was introduced in 2021 and during its first year had a starting intake of over 20 students. 

The course is run by a subject leader in charge of law with an extensive law background. There is a large segment of law within the course and specialist knowledge is demonstrated in terms of content and delivery. Many students take both criminology and law which helps build a relationship of trust between students and teacher. The course is implemented in such as way as to gain expertise in criminology alongside other areas such as criminal justice, law, psychology and sociology. Alternatively, the qualification allows students to gain the required understanding and skills to be able to consider apprenticeships or employment within the criminal justice system, e.g. the Crime Prosecution Service, law sector, the National Probation Service and the Courts and Tribunals Service.

Impact – What is the impact of our curriculum on the students? 

Pupils are awarded a grade range of A*-U on completion of the Diploma, in the same way that traditional A levels are awarded. Each grade carries the same UCAS points as it does at A level and therefore pupils who undertake the Applied Diploma in Criminology have the same access to universities as those pupils who chose to sit A levels or BTecs. 

Pupils are constantly and rigorously assessed throughout the two-year course. For Units 1 (Year 12) and Units 3 (Year 13) pupils complete an 8 hour Controlled piece of Assessment in which pupils are given a scenario and a selection of tasks to complete based on the said scenario. This is completed across an 8 hour period in which pupils are allowed access to their note books and computers, but must complete all work within the 8 hours of supervised study and cannot access any other materials. The Controlled Assessment is marked out of 100 and is marked by the class teacher and moderated by the exam board. If pupils do not achieve a grade they hoped for, there is one re-sit attempt for each piece of controlled assessment.

For Units 2 (Year 12) and Units 4 (year 13) the pupils have to sit a 90 minute exam for each. The exam paper is split into 3 sections, each with a separate scenario and pupils are asked a number of questions around the scenario. The exam paper is marked out of 75 and is marked externally by the exam board. Again, there is a resit opportunity for the exam should pupils not achieve the grade they hoped for. In preparation for the exams, pupils are regularly assessed during lesson times continuously by practicing past questions and papers. We also put pupils through two formal Mock exam papers: January and in March each year in order to help pupils best prepare for the summer exams. 

Criminology is a fascinating subject that allows our pupils to not only develop their knowledge and understanding of our legal and Justice system but it also offers incredible opportunities for personal growth. Pupils are often confronted with challenging topics to discuss and consider, as well as having to often form their own opinions and interpretations of what is right and wrong. We often discuss the issues of criminality and Deviance, and whether they are always mutually exclusive or not. We discuss moral crimes and many case studies that call into question whether our justice system is fit for purpose or not. We discuss out punishment system and what its main purposes are along side many theories on criminality. 

There are also a number of opportunities that are given to pupils in Criminology, that pupils in other subjects just simply wouldn’t be afforded. Pupils experience private seminars with Former Chief of Police discussing complex crimes such as Domestic abuse. They also are given the opportunity to take part in a crime investigation from start to finish through an external training provided who come into school and coach pupils through an entire police investigation using real life crimes. Pupils are also offered the opportunity to visit Shrewsbury Prison in order to see first hand how the prison system works and ho it has evolved over time. 

Curriculum Statement

Criminology Curriculum Statement

Staff

Miss E Chambers

Mr S Davies

Curriculum Overview 

KS5 – Year 12 – 13 

Exam Board at Level 3 - WJEC

Useful Websites

WJEC Course Info Page