Social Science

Welcome to Park Hall Academy's Social Science Department

The Social Science Department at Park Hall Academy prides itself in being at the forefront of innovation and development. Students and staff have worked hard to put together their own web site. The department video gives a snap shot of the department and we have listened to our students and included useful revision material and lots of photos to celebrate their successes.

The Social Science Department at Park Hall Academy briefly consists of Citizenship at KS3 and KS4, GCSE Sociology, Citizenship, Child Development, Health & Social Care, AS & A2's in Sociology and Psychology, BTEC First in Early Years and BTEC National in Early Years.

The Social Science Department has developed a national reputation for excellence in terms of the wide range of teaching and learning styles used in the classroom and examination results. Both students and staff have had numerous articles published in educational journals ranging from The Times Educational Supplement to Personalised Education Now, Tide News and various chapters in books. It is quite simply a pleasure to teach our students and to work with a friendly, supportive and innovative team.

Citizenship Education is a key curriculum area within the department, delivered by a core team of specialist Citizenship staff.  The schools commitment to Citizenship Education is reflected in the fact that every young person in KS3 and KS4 has at least one discrete hour lesson of Citizenship Education each week.  It is important to stress that Citizenship education at Park Hall Academy is based on a Social Science approach.  We believe that Citizenship Education is more than a statutory subject.  We aim to teach it well and to enhance our student skills, values and attitudes to enable them to become active, informed citizens.  This reflects our support for the argument that some values, like those of democracy, tolerance and responsibility grow only with experience of them.

 We are also keen to stress the importance of our Vocational Courses. The Social Science Department therefore includes the New GCSE (Double Award) in Health and Social Care (OCR), GCSE Child Development, BTEC First in Early Years and BTEC National in Early Years. Our students have achieved excellent results in all of these areas and most continue their studies at our Sixth Form before progressing to work in the care sector or increasingly moving onto university. Both BTEC First and National Early Years students attend work placements one day per week. Our Health and Social Care GCSE students also spend one afternoon per week in local schools, nurseries and care homes to facilitate positive links with our local community. Staff visit students while on placement and find this extremely enjoyable.

 The department is situated in a suite of adjacent rooms with our own ICT suite for small groups of students. We believe that active learning and a sense of purpose and success enhance students enjoyment, interest and sense of personal worth. As part of this process students regularly attend Student Conferences and visit the Houses of Parliament. We also organise visiting speakers to look at a range of issues. This has included Theatre Workshops on a range of issues and talks ranging from a Tribal Princess from Papua New Guinea to arranged marriages and polygamy. We have had visiting speakers from Social Services, the NSPCC and various care professionals such as local Midwives and the Modern Matron for Paediatrics at Heartland's Hospital.

We also work closely with the Educational Charity 'Personalised Education Now' who have recently published a 'Feature Supplement' on the work of Year 9 Park Hall Citizenship students, focusing on the plight of 'Asylum Seekers' in their February Issue. We are very excited about getting more of our students work published as they are always thrilled to see their work in print. Other students have contributed to a leading sociology book, gained bursaries to attend international conferences and trialed and written classroom materials for the Development Education Centre. We are really proud of their achievements.

 Finally it is important to stress that Social Science is valued at Park Hall Academy. Its reputation for excellence in terms of examination results, innovations in the curriculum and good practice can be attributed to an innovative, creative and vibrant team of committed staff and the hard work and effort put in by our students.

 Dr L Browne