Statement of Intent

Criminology at St Gregory’s began as a response to the political, sociological and psychological questions and issues that St Gregory’s students intuitively asked and want answered. Through this Applied Level 3 course, students are able to understand the changing awareness of crime, the criminological theories behind criminals, the process from crime scene to courtroom and the purpose and modern issues with crime and punishment.  This allows students to identify local, national and global issues, exploring cultural and religious differences, the impact of the media, historical variations and whether the problem of crime can ever truly be solved.  Students will develop a variety of skills from both the controlled assessments and examination modules, including independent research, organisation skills, responding to feedback and working to deadlines.  These critical life skills can be applied to future opportunities, such as university or employment.  Because of the synoptic nature of the course, students will develop a detailed and personalised overview of Criminology that can be applied to their world now and in the future.

Purpose

Criminology (from Latin cr?men, "accusation"; and Greek -λογ?α, -logia) is the scientific study of criminal behaviour, on individual, social and natural levels, and how it can be managed, controlled and prevented.  This course will enable students to use theories of criminality to analyse criminal situations and make recommendations for policy. Students also develop the knowledge and skills to research policy in practice, assess campaigns for changes in awareness and examine information to review verdicts in criminal cases.

Students should be able, at the end of year 13, to make synoptic links between most of the content covered in the 4 mandatory units, allowing them to successfully complete the 2 internal controlled assessments and 2 external exams. Students will learn from a range of assessment criteria that is immersed throughout all units including analyse, explain, describe, evaluate, compare, plan, design, justify, assess, discuss, examine, understand and draw conclusions.  These skills are developed through a variety of independent research, exam questions, wider reading and practical activities.

In Year 12, students study Unit 1 Changing Awareness of Crime and Unit 2 Criminological Theories.  The first unit enables the learner to demonstrate understanding of different types of crime, influences on perceptions of crime and why some crimes are unreported. The purpose of this unit is for students to plan campaigns for change relating to crime. The second unit allows learners to gain an understanding of why people commit crime, drawing on what they have learned in Unit 1. The purpose of this unit is for students to apply their understanding of the public perceptions of crime and campaigns for change studied in Unit 1 with criminological theories to examine how both are used to set policy.

In Year 13, students continue their studies with Unit 3 Crime Scene to Courtroom and Unit 4 Crime and Punishment.  The third unit provides an understanding of the criminal justice system from the moment a crime has been identified through to the verdict.  Learners will develop the understanding and skills needed to examine information in order to review the justice of verdicts in criminal cases. In the fourth unit, learners 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. The purpose of this unit is for students to develop skills in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the process of social control in delivering policy in practice.