Social Sciences
Citizenship Studies
The aim of Citizenship Studies is to provide students with the political literacy, skills and confidence to empower them to play an active role in society. Students explore the different ways that citizens can actively participate in democracy and evaluate the importance of democratic participation in the UK. Throughout the course students are exposed to real life examples of individuals and groups that have played a role in shaping society and influencing political decisions.
Citizenship Studies enables students to develop a critical understanding of the concepts of British values rights, justice, fairness, democracy, rule of law, and social change. Students develop the ability to critically analyse a range of sources and consider the implications of bias in the media and develop skills to eliminate bias. Students learn how to consider the strengths and weaknesses of different viewpoints before reaching their own conclusions.
A main focus of Citizenship Studies is for students to appreciate how citizens can bring about change. Therefore a central part of the course is the Citizenship Investigation which provides all students with the opportunity to take action on real-world issues and make a difference to their local community. Students plan and carry out their own investigation into a local social and political issue, then based on their findings they plan, carry out and evaluate campaign actions in order to have a positive impact on their chosen issue.
The skills and content developed in the course ensures that Citizenship Studies provides a useful foundation for the study of social science subjects (particularly Politics, Sociology and Law) at A Level and degree. More importantly Citizenship Studies encourages students to question, challenge and engage in social and political debates enabling them to play a full and active role in society and the UK’s democratic processes.
Enrichment and extra-curricular opportunities
- Citizenship ambassadors
- Trips to Parliament, Tower Hamlets council, Musuem of London and the Migration Museum
- Opportunities to interview elected representatives and employees from political parties and pressure groups
- Model United Nations
- Jack Petchey public speaking competition
Subject Overview and Curriculum Map
Subject Overview
Curriculum Map
Health & Social Care
The Health and Social Care department seeks to have high aspirations for all our students. We celebrate and value diversity, support all students to progress during their time with us, and encourage them to achieve the best that they are capable of and therefore transform lives through our high expectations and standards.
While we support students to develop their knowledge and skills, we encourage them to ask questions, develop their understanding and build confidence in their own abilities and build challenges into all our lessons which support all students to make exceptional progress in their learning.
Our curriculum is designed to empower all students to develop skills and values that will provide them with transferable tools to enable them to become successful, influential and responsible citizens in an evolving global world, thus enhancing their employability when leaving education.
Enrichment and extra-curricular opportunities
The department offers students a variety of enrichment opportunities, including visits to local health, social care and early years’ services. We also provide study support, peer mentoring and intensive revision booster sessions leading up to examinations.
Extra- curricular opportunities include first aid training, visits to a range of HE institutions, UCAS week and guest speakers from a range of Health and Social Care professions.
Subject Overview and Curriculum Map
Subject Overview
Curriculum Map
Social Studies
Social Studies combines elements of the national curriculum’s Citizenship and PSHE (Personal, Social and Health Education) content.
Social Studies empowers students to make a difference in the world. It teaches British values democracy, fairness and justice, defends human rights and celebrates diversity. By examining power relationships, systems of government and law, students develop political literacy. They are given the skills to weigh up evidence and form their own conclusions, and the confidence and language to communicate these.
It teaches students to be financially and environmentally responsible, giving them the tools to be active citizens in their local, national or global communities. Students are challenged to evaluate the effectiveness of campaigns, be persuasive and take real-world actions for change. Every child is given the opportunity to make a meaningful connection to the local community.
Social Studies equips students to navigate both the physical and the online world, teaching e-safety and developing skills in research, critical thinking and source analysis. This means they are able to identify bias in media, dispel myths, and distinguish opinion from fact independently; essential skills needed in preventing radicalization.
Social Studies at CFGS encourages students’ spiritual, moral and cultural development. Its PSHE elements teach students the knowledge and skills needed to make important decisions in their lives; to keep safe, healthy and realize their goals. It provides practical solutions for the challenges they may face in the world, such as tackling issues of gender inequality and violence against women and girls.
Enrichment and extra-curricular opportunities
- Trips to Parliament, the Bank of England Museum, the Museum of London, the Migration Museum
- Mock Trial competition
- Take part in a global Citizenship fair (year 7)
Subject Overview and Curriculum Map
Subject Overview
Curriculum Map
Sociology
Sociology aims to broaden students’ minds, helping them to see their world from different perspectives and in new and thought-provoking ways.
Our Sociology curriculum intends to cultivate the sociological imagination, enhancing the ability of students in understanding how individual and group behaviour is shaped by society's historical development, how personal problems are connected to public issues of social structure, and how to work with others to improve social conditions.
Students will develop knowledge and understanding of the contextualised work of key classical sociologists. Students will use sociological theories and evidence to compare and contrast social issues, construct reasoned arguments and debates, make substantiated judgements and connections between the different topics areas studied.
By studying Sociology, students will develop transferable skills of research, analyze and evaluate different research methods used in sociological investigations and assess, critically, the appropriateness of their use.
The subject of Sociology KS4 and 5 is designed to develop knowledge and skills for the further study of Sociology, and related subjects, such as Psychology, Anthropology, Criminology, Social Policy, Politics and Law.
Pathways of employment inlcude Law, Business and Marketing, Teaching, Media, Journalism, Policy-making, Social work, anything you want to be!
Enrichment and extra-curricular opportunities
- Sociology Ambassadors
- Trips to the Old Bailey
- Trips to London Dungeon
- Trips to the Museum of London
- Trips to the Museum of Childhood
Subject Overview and Curriculum Map
Subject Overview
Curriculum Map
Department
To contact the Social Sciences Department please email: SocialSciences@central.towerhamlets.sch.uk.
| Ms S. Rosario | Head of Social Sciences (maternity leave) |
| Ms R. Davidson | Teacher of Citizenship, Politics and Social Studies / Interim Head of Social Sciences |
| Ms H. Lee | Teacher of Sociology, Social Studies and Citizenship / Interim Second in Charge of Social Sciences |
| Ms D. Bridgstock | Teacher of Sociology and Social Studies |
| Ms T. Peres | Teacher of Social Studies |
| Ms S. Khanom | Teacher of Social Sciences & Citizenship |
| Ms N. Harrigan | Teacher of Social Sciences and Health & Social Care / Head of Year 10 |
| Ms R. Smith | Head of Health & Social Care |
| Ms D. Neal | Teacher of Health & Social Care |
