Criminology (KS5)

Criminology at St Wilfrid’s (WJEC Level 3 Applied Diploma – equivalent to 1 A-Level)

Subject Intent

This course is designed to ignite your curiosity about crime, society, and justice. You’ll learn to think like a criminologist—exploring different types of crime, why people commit them, and how society responds. You'll gain analytical skills, research techniques, and real-world understanding, preparing you for university studies in criminology, sociology, psychology, law—or careers in criminal justice, social policy, and beyond 

Course Overview (2-year)

Year 1

• Unit 1: Changing Awareness of Crime (Internally assessed – controlled coursework)
  Explore how different types of crime (like white-collar, hate, state crime) are perceived and reported—and sometimes hidden. Learn how media representation, public campaigns, and statistics shape social understanding. You'll also plan and justify a campaign for change, applying theory to action 
• Unit 2: Criminological Theories (Externally assessed – 90 min exam)
  Examine why crime happens through biological, psychological/individual, and sociological perspectives. You'll analyse policy connections and evaluate how well these theories explain real crimes 

Year 2

• Unit 3: Crime Scene to Courtroom (Internally assessed – controlled coursework)
  Understand the criminal justice journey—from investigation to trial—with a strong emphasis on practical and research skills (like interviews and evidence evaluation) 
• Unit 4: Crime and Punishment (Externally assessed – 90 min exam)
  Explore justice and sanctioning systems, policymaking, and the relationship between theory and practice in controlling crime. This builds on the insights from earlier units 

Assessment Breakdown

• Units 1 & 3: Controlled internal coursework (8 hours each), contributing 50% of overall grade 
• Units 2 & 4: External exams (90 minutes, 75 marks each), also 50% overall 

Each unit must be passed to achieve the full diploma 

Homework & Independent Study

Expect a mix of research tasks, exam-style questions, case study evaluations, campaign planning documentation, and revision activities. You'll also be encouraged to follow crime trends, legal changes, and media coverage to enrich your learning.

Enrichment Opportunities

• Visits to courts, law enforcement agencies, or forensic units
• Guest speakers from criminology, law enforcement, probation services
• Campaign planning workshops and community activism projects
• Participation in events or competitions like mock trials or debates
• Revision clinics and peer-support sessions

Progression & Careers

This course is ideal if you're aiming for degrees in criminology, law, psychology, sociology, or forensic science. It also opens doors to roles in policing, probation, youth justice, social work, policy-making, and community services . The skills you develop—critical thinking, research design, communication, and ethical reasoning—are widely valued across higher studies and careers.