Criminology

Intent

At the Oldershaw School, the aim is to provide all our students with the opportunity to learn and enjoy studying Criminology in a safe, pleasant and stimulating environment. By providing a well-planned and structured curriculum, students are able to engage in lessons where interactive whole class teaching, problem solving, and rich tasks challenge the full range of abilities. All students have the opportunity to develop skills across the 2-year Level 3 Diploma course. The intention of the criminology department is for students to be given every opportunity to access a subject with a breadth of topics that span across the two-year Diploma course. This subject allows students to gain the necessary skills and knowledge at each stage of the course, to enable them to build on their knowledge and understanding of criminology. This will allow a deep understanding of key theories and concepts that are important within the application of knowledge to various areas of the Criminal Justice System. The diploma is ‘knowledge-heavy’ and therefore providing a knowledge-based course is a sensible approach, in order to support students, in gaining both ‘depth’ and ‘breadth’, within their learning. The course curriculum is also ambitious and allows for recall and revision of topics on numerous occasions throughout each school year.

The Criminology Department aims to:

Provide all students with a deep and broad understanding of the application of mathematics in everyday life through developing tasks which are relatable for our pupils and the community in which we teach.
Ensure that all pupils become fluent in the fundamentals of the Criminal Justice System, including through varied and frequent practice with increasingly complex applications to case studies over time.
Develop conceptual understanding and the ability to recall and apply knowledge rapidly and accurately through teaching that makes use of concrete, abstract and pictorial mediums.
Provide an ambitious curriculum with stretch and challenge for all pupils with appropriate support and guidance, particularly for disadvantaged learners, to achieve a pathway to success.
Build students’ competency in applying criminological reasoning through enquiry, conjecture and generalisation to develop argument, justification and seek evidence.
Acknowledge the importance of formative assessment with special attention to providing feedback that has a positive effect on students’ self-efficacy.
Frequently review and evaluate the progress of our learners through formative and summative assessments of learnt skills, with structured and tailored intervention for students as required.
Ensure that support is available to students which have been identified as falling below the expected level of attainment due to the pandemic.
Ensure that students receive a broad curriculum when learning remotely and identify areas of weakness which have occurred as a result of the pandemic.

Implementation

Full Course Details available via WJEC website HERE

The year 12 journey begins with students studying two Key areas of the Criminology Diploma. Theories of Crime explore the social construction of criminality. The Comparison of criminal behaviour and deviance are explained. Followed by explanations of different theories of criminality. Then analysis of situations of criminality. These important components of the course are delivered by a specialist teacher. By the end of the first term students will apply their newly learnt skills towards the successful completion of the unit 2 exam paper. We then move on to the Changing Awareness of Crime and explore how crime reporting affects public perception of crime. Followed by gaining an understanding of how campaigns are used to elicit change. Students then plan their own campaign. In the Spring term students prepare for the controlled assessment element of the course. Revision and recall are essential at advanced level and students are set weekly homework’s which test previously learnt material as well as the current topic. Past paper questions are provided on a regular basis to ensure that students are fully prepared for the extended writing element of their first year. We end the year by recalling and revisiting material from the exam unit element of the course, in preparation for the external examinations in May. Once completed, students use the last 5 weeks of the summer term to begin studying the second year course requirements.

The year 13 journey begins with being able to describe the various processes used for law making, as well as being able to describe the organisation of the criminal justice system. This is then followed by being ale to explain the measures used in social control, by gaining knowledge and understanding of the role of different agencies. Past paper questions are provided regularly and ensure that students are fully prepared for the examination in the Summer term. We then move on to students gaining an understanding of the process of criminal investigation, as well as the process for prosecution of suspects and finally, a review of criminal cases. This unit is in preparation or the controlled assessment element of the second year. We end the year by recalling and revisiting material from the Advanced first year of the diploma course, in preparation for the external examinations in May. Students work through a range of past paper questions and develop strong problem-solving skills.

Cultural Capital & Enrichment

Our aim is to incorporate cultural capital into lessons in both year groups. We aim to prepare students for the real world by ensuring that they develop the skills required to apply psychology in everyday life. Students leave Oldershaw with the ability to feel confident with the following:

Developing a passion for understanding the world around them and helping students to decipher a society they may not feel part of is a belief at the very core of Criminology. Students are encouraged to develop a deep sense of understanding about factors which influence an individual in their lifetime, from their genetic predisposition and their ability to become criminals, to societal factors relating to criminality. Criminology is delivered with the ethos of allowing students to feel confident in themselves and their abilities to analyse, evaluate and synthesise theories.

Students learn about the different political parties in the UK. This gives them insight into how Britain values democracy amongst all.

We also learn about the importance of mental health enabling our students to have an appreciation of values and norms in all cultures.

At the end of every term, pupils complete a practical based project linked to the units being studied, which provides a real-life application of Criminology to situations they will encounter in adult life.

Criminological content is linked to careers by identifying how particular skills relate to daily life and ensuring that students understand the place that criminal justice has in society.

We facilitate a range of educational visits and experiences including:

Liverpool Crown Court
Mock Trial Programme
Styal Prison

Progression Routes

Students can progress from this qualification to:

higher education qualifications such as psychology degrees; politics; criminology; Law; Criminal Justice; counselling; research
Alternative progression routes into higher apprenticeships
Jobs in a range of sectors – Police; CPS; Forensic Science & Crime Scene Investigation