Law

Welcome

Law provides an introduction to the English legal system. It allows students to learn about a fascinating subject, one which covers many aspects of life. Students will learn about the legal system, law-making, the nature of law, criminal law, human rights law and the law of contract. Law students develop a range of skills including the application of legal rules and principles to present an argument, analysis and evaluation of the law, legal issues and concepts.

Key Staff

Mrs Jackson - Head of Department
Mrs Hume - Teacher of Law

Curriculum Intent

“Where there is no law there is no freedom” (John Locke). We teach Law to equip students with an understanding of our legal system, democracy and the role of law in our lives. As such it has useful applications for everyday life as well as developing skills of analysis and debate.

Key Stage 5

A-Level: Eduqas WJEC

A-Level Law provides an introduction to law, it allows students to learn about a fascinating subject, one which covers many aspects of life. Students will learn about the legal system, law-making, the nature of law, criminal law, the law of tort and human rights law or the law of contract. Law students develop a range of skills including the application of legal rules and principles to present an argument, analysis and evaluation of the law, legal issues and concepts.

Assessment for A-Level is in the form of three exams taken at the end of the second year of the course:

Component 1: The Nature of Law and the English Legal System
Written examination
1 hour 30 minutes
25% of qualification
This focuses on civil and criminal courts, the legal professions, and access to justice.

Component 2: Substantive Law in Practice
Written examination
2 hour 15 minutes
37.5% of qualification
This focuses on the rules of tort, liability in negligence, occupiers’ liability and civil remedies.

Component 3: Perspectives of Substantive Law
Written examination
2 hour 15 minutes
37.5% of qualification
This focuses on Human Rights Law, the protection of human rights and freedoms and how this interacts with morality, justice, society and technology.

The A-Level gives an excellent introduction for students who want to read law at university or start a legal apprenticeship. Universities recognise the advantages of A-Level Law and the old view that it should not be studied has long since faded away. However, A-Level Law is not just for students who want to enter the legal professions. It is a well-respected subject, which also provides students with highly transferable skills. Other popular career options after A-Level Law include the police, teaching, social work, business and accounting.

Summary Curriculum Plans

Homework Intent

The purpose of Law homework is to build independent, critical thinkers. The tasks consolidate the student's classroom learning and ensure they have the skills to succeed in the external exams. Tasks are designed to develop analytical skills, logical thinking and essay writing skills, ultimately ensuring the students can produce essays which have a balanced argument.

INDEPENDENT STUDY is essential to Sixth Form study and a wide range of tasks can be set by teachers to develop these skills. Teachers will set at least one independent study-focused task each week.
Independent study can take several forms including:

online research tasks
written tasks
wider reading
recall of information from Knowledge Organisers
revision and preparation for end-of-topic tests.

Tasks may also be targeted to develop wider interest in the subject as well as those more focused on the exam specification and the controlled assessments.

Inclusion

It is our intent that pupils with special educational needs/disabilities (SEND) follow the same curriculum, learn alongside their peers and achieve similar outcomes. In addition, they may benefit from additional opportunities in the lessons and in the co-curricular activities that are arranged especially for them.

SEND Implementation and Impact Pupil Premium Intent

Literacy

Reading Aims:

To ensure students are equipped to understand command words in questions.
To ensure students are equipped with a range of independent reading strategies to aid subject comprehension, exam technique and accessing the subject beyond the curriculum.
To ensure students are equipped with a range of independent reading strategies when applying source material (Sociology / Criminology / Health and Social Care).
To support students in understanding complex vocabulary that they encounter in their reading.
To encourage students to read for pleasure outside of the lessons (reading lists and classroom displays).
To encourage students to engage with topical subject related subject material.

Writing Aims:

To ensure students are equipped with strategies to construct their answers to meet the demands of the exam but also show flair and creativity.

To ensure students are equipped with a range of independent strategies to enable them to plan their answers carefully.

To equip students with strategies to reflect on their writing.

To enable students to manage the demands of writing in timed conditions.

Literacy Strategies