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Criminology - Specialist Qualification

Thorpe St Andrew School and Sixth Form

Laundry Lane, Thorpe St Andrew, Norwich, Norfolk, NR7 0XS

GCE A/AS Level or Equivalent
Level 3
Social Sciences

Available start dates

Available start dates

Tuesday, 01 September 2026
Thorpe St Andrew School & Sixth Form
2 Year(s)
Full time
Daytime/working hours
A Level/Specialist Qualifications

Application Instructions

Please apply for all courses via Help You Choose. Applications will open on October 21st.


In order to ensure success in the Sixth Form, we have designed different pathways to suit your individual needs. Please see below for the specific entry criteria. In addition to this, students will need to check the specific entry criteria for their chosen subjects by checking each course descrpition.

The General Pathway

This pathway is for students who are unsure about which way their future will take them and therefore would like to keep their options as open as possible by gaining UCAS points with their Module Two Option.

Module One: three A Levels

Module Three: Enrichment Course

Module Four: Academic Coaching

You will need English and Mathematics at Grade 4 or above and at least four other GCSE subjects at Grade 4 or above.

The Combined Pathway

This pathway is for students who are unsure which way their future will take them and therefore would like to keep their options as open as possible.

Module One – either one of the three below options:

Two A-levels and one specialist qualification (equivalent to one A Level)

One A-level and two specialist qualifications (equivalent to one A Level each)

Three specialist qualifications (equivalent to one A Level each)

Module Two: Enrichment Course

Module Three: Academic Coaching

You will need English or Mathematics at Grade 4 or above and at least four other GCSE subjects at Grade 4 or above.

The Specialist Pathway

This pathway is equivalent to three A Levels and is designed for students who already know which career path they would like to take. Please refer to our on offer to view the range.

Module One: Advanced Specialist Qualification

Module Two: Work Placement

Module Three: Enrichment Course

You will need English or Mathematics at Grade 4 or above and at least four other GCSE subjects at Grade 4 or above.

The Extended Pathway

This pathway is for students aspiring to study at Oxbridge or one of the Russell Group Universities or who want to follow a high-demand course such as Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary, Law or Engineering.

Module One: Three A Levels

Module Two: One Advanced Subsidiary Level

Module Three: Enrichment Course

Module Four: Academic Coaching

You will need English and Mathematics at Grade 5 or above and at least four other GCSE subjects at Grade 5 or above.

The T Level Pathway

This course is equivalent to three A Levels and is designed for students who already know which career path they would like to take.

Module One: T Level Course

Module Two: Industry Placement

You will need English or Mathematics at Grade 4 or above and at least four other GCSE subjects at Grade 4 or above.

Course Summary

This qualification includes elements of psychology, law and sociology. It is an applied course that will enable you to acquire knowledge and understanding in purposeful contexts linked to the criminal justice system.

This course is designed primarily to support learners progressing to university. Together with other relevant qualifications, such as A Level Psychology, Law and Sociology, it develops the understanding to support entry to Higher Education courses in the humanities sector.

Course Details

Changing Awareness of Crime (Mandatory)
This unit will enable you to demonstrate understanding of different types of crime, influences on perceptions of crime and why some crimes are unreported.

Criminological Theories (Mandatory)
This unit will allow you to develop an understanding of why people commit crime, drawing on what you have learned in Unit 1.

Crime Scene to Courtroom (Mandatory)
This unit provides an understanding of the criminal justice system from the moment a crime has been identified 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.

Crime and Punishment (Mandatory)
This unit involves applying your 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.

How will it be delivered and assessed?

The course is made up of four units, two external examination units and two internally controlled assessments.

Entry requirements

• Five GCSE’s at Grade 4 or above

• One of the five to be GCSE Mathematics at Grade 4 or above


Your next steps...

Criminology is an ideal qualification for many jobs within the Criminal Justice Sector, Social and Probation work and Psychology. This qualification can also give you access to Higher Education.


For more courses like this, check our courses page.