A Level Sociology - H583
The lastest sociology,
without starting from scratch
Accredited for first teach 2027
A Level Sociology - H583
The latest sociology, without starting from scratch
Accredited for first teach 2027
Tom Genillard, Sociology and Criminology Subject Advisor, is on hand to suppot you, helping you get the most from our qualification. Find out more about Tom.
A Level Sociology that's worth switching for
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Contemporary content
New content covering modern crime prevention strategies, alongside updated topics like identity, globalisation and the digital social world. -
Straightforward assessment
Consistent structure across all papers, fewer question types and the same command words used each time. -
Planning done for you
Full scheme of work for every component, with lesson resources, tasks and videos, giving you more time to adapt them to your students' individual needs.
Content that reflects today’s world
More of the contemporary sociology students need, with less content to get through.
- Modernised topics like crime, education, religion, globalisation and the digital social world
- Developed brand new A Level topics like urban music subcultures and non-binary and trans identities
- Reduced overall content, allowing more time to engage with balanced and inclusive perspectives to enrich learning

Assessment designed to support student success
We’ve simplified assessment so students can focus on demonstrating what they know.
- Consistent structure across all papers
- Just five question types and three command words, reducing cognitive load in exams
- Fewer question types and a lower maximum tariff essay (20 marks)
- Reduced source length and overall number of sources
A head start on the next two years of planning
Save time every week with lessons mapped out and ready-to-use resources and activities.
Created with leading sociology educators, including The Sociology Guy and Tutor2U, our comprehensive planning and teaching resources give you time back, making it easy to teach our A Level Sociology.
- Lesson-by-lesson teaching resources and independent study tasks
- Video content created with expert partners
- Key term glossaries and curriculum planner included
- Fully adaptable to suit your teaching style
This is a game changer… To be able to spend more time on teaching the content than the rubric is excellent.
Feedback captured during
customer testing phase
Switch specifications without rebuilding your course
Ready to make the switch to our new A Level Sociology? We provide clear support to help you make the move with confidence, so you can switch seamlessly.
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STEP 1
Quickly map your current scheme of work to ours with our switching guide. -
STEP 2
Use our fully customisable scheme of work to make lesson planning seamless. -
STEP 3
Access on-demand resources, including one-to-one support online or in person from our subject advisor, Tom.
Tom Genillard
Subject Advisor, Sociology and Criminology
Meet Tom, your dedicated Subject Advisor
Tom Genillard is the Subject Advisor for Sociology and Criminology. He supports and advises teachers and school leaders on our AS & A Level Sociology course, as well as future criminology qualifications.
Previously, he was a teacher for 11 years leading to his last role, as Head of Social Sciences. He’s also a trustee for the Sociological Review Foundation, who are keen to engage, support and work with A Level teachers and students.
Personalised support and customisable resources
You’ll have access to a wide range of teaching and professional development support, including one-to-one support from our Sociology and Criminology Subject Advisor, Tom Genillard.
- Fully adaptable scheme of work from The Sociology Guy
- Free digital library of the BBC archive with the Educational Recording Agency (ERA)
- Subject expert blogs, podcasts and guidance
- Partner resources (e.g. Tutor2u’s Cambridge OCR playlist)
- Events, conferences and enrichment opportunities
- Professional development courses
- Projects and collaborations with the British Sociological Association, The Sociological Review Foundation and various PGCE/SCITT providers
Sociology for tomorrow’s critical thinker
Sociology builds the critical thinking skills students need for university, work and beyond - from analysing evidence to understanding complex social issues.
Law
Sociology helps students evaluate evidence, construct arguments and understand social structures.
Criminology
Sociology helps students understand the social causes of crime, deviance and inequality.
It develops the ability to analyse patterns of behaviour and evaluate theories.
Social Policy
Students learn how social issues like education, inequality and welfare are shaped by policy decisions.
Sociology encourages evaluation of real-world evidence.
Journalism
Sociology builds research, analysis and communication skills.
Understanding social issues enables more informed, balanced reporting.
Finance
Sociology develops the ability to analyse data, understand human behaviour and evaluate trends.
It helps students understand how decisions impact different groups in society.
Business
Sociology gives insight into consumer behaviour, identity and social trends.
It supports analytical and creative thinking to understand audiences.
Frequently Asked Questions
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How is your A Level Sociology different from other exam boards?
It combines contemporary topics with a more consistent and straightforward assessment structure, alongside a fully planned scheme of work.
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Is there support for switching from my existing exam board?
Yes, including switching and mapping guidance to support your transition. If you'd like to speak to someone about switching to Cambridge OCR, please email ukpartnerships@ocr.org.
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What teaching resources are included?
A full scheme of work, brand-new lesson resources, independent study tasks and supporting materials will be available. For now, take a look at the resources available for our current A Level Sociology (H580); many of these will be the same resources for our new qualification.
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Will your AS Level Sociology still be available and will it be redeveloped?
Yes, we are still offering AS Level Sociology (H180) this year. We are awaiting accreditation for our new H183 AS Level course, which we hope will be ready for September 2027 first teach.
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Will there be another set of practice papers, other than the sample assessment materials, which will also help with a suggested structure for student answers?
Yes. We will have a fresh set of practice papers for each component before launch, and another set will be live in early 2028. We will also have an 'assessment story' that takes you through what to focus on for each question type, an assessment guide and candidate style answers.
Get in touch with us to learn more
Call: 01223 553998 (select option 3) Email: ukpartnerships@ocr.org.uk