Mr D Aston – Teacher of Psychology, Criminology & Head of Year 10
Vision
The Criminology department is committed to ensuring all pupils make excellent progress in Criminology and develop a nuanced understanding of crime, its causes, and its impact. We do this by encouraging curiosity about the nature of crime through modules such as drug policy, criminological theories, and forensic investigation, giving the chance to expand students’ criminological imagination and set up future careers.
Intent
The Criminology curriculum at Cox Green School aims to ensure that all KS5 students gain a coherent knowledge and understanding of crime in the UK, including trends in policing, the nature of crime statistics and representation of crime in the media. Furthermore, the course aims to develop understanding of how and why people become criminals, the nature of forensic criminology and the structure and effectiveness of the UK justice system.
Students are encouraged to ask nuanced questions, think critically, and develop an evaluate mindset that can apply across different contexts. Students will develop an awareness of how agencies work practically in the real world, with the extensive use of case studies to embed understanding.
Implementation
Our whole curriculum is shaped by our school vision, which aims to enable all children, regardless of background, ability, additional needs, to flourish to become the very best version of themselves they can possibly be.
We teach the WJEC Vocational Diploma which has two controlled assessment units and two exam units across two years. Skills and knowledge for each type of assessment are sequenced appropriately to maximise achievement for all students. It is vital that students can develop an understanding of the Criminal Justice System in the UK. Students will examine case studies to allow them to evaluate the effectiveness of agencies and techniques within criminal investigation, and how these have progressed across time. Case studies include Amanda Knox, Stephen Lawrence, Sally Clark, and Colin Stagg.
In Criminology, pupils at Cox Green School, will develop a wide understanding of the UK Justice System, how people become criminals, media representation of crime and the nature of forensic investigation. They will grow and refine evaluative and analytical skills that will enable them to move into a career in criminal justice should they wish. Students will develop a wider appreciation of Criminology in action through practical forensic lessons and visits to Crown Court.
Impact
By the time students finish their diploma, they should have developed:
- A secure understanding of the nature of crime, criminological theories, and the structure of the UK Justice System.
- The ability to think critically about different aspects of criminology and communicate confidently as an individual and as a team.
- The ability to consistently support, evaluate and debate a range of views.
- The ability to reflect on case studies and examine them for strengths and weaknesses of the agencies involved.
Outcomes in assessment and in-class work evidence a challenging and relevant curriculum, as well as demonstrating progress in lessons and the students’ acquisition of nuanced key knowledge. Students will reflect on their progress through one-to-one meetings and identify areas of strength, weakness and how to improve. This will be done collaboratively, allowing students to develop into independent leaners. Emphasis is placed on evaluative and analytical skills, allowing students to develop into effective Criminologists with an understanding of how to apply their knowledge in the real world.