A Level Law at Ousedale School
Teacher in charge: Mr N Summers
A Level Law Mission Statement
To provide a grounding in the main principles of English and Welsh law and their development and enable candidates to develop knowledge, understanding and critical awareness of the structure, personnel and functions of the English Legal system and one area of substantive law.
Objectives of A Level Law
- Provide a grounding in the main principles of English law and their development;
- Develop knowledge and understanding of the structure, personnel and functions of the English law system and, for Advanced GCE, one area of English substantive law;
- Develop and understanding of legal method and reasoning;
- Develop the techniques of logical thinking, and the skills necessary to analyse and solve problems by applying legal rules;
- Develop a critical awareness of the changing nature of law in society;
- Develop the ability to communicate legal arguments and conclusions clearly and succinctly with reference to the appropriate legal authority.
Structure and content of the Advanced GCE in Law
To achieve the Advanced GCE in Law students must successfully complete all six units that include a special study unit (synoptic paper).
Compulsory unit titles and number for the A Level in Law
EXAM BOARD: OCR
| Unit Number | Unit Title |
Completed Year 1 AS Level |
Completed Year 2 A2 Level |
| G141 | ENGLISH LEGAL SYSTEM |
|
|
| G142 | SOURCES OF LAW |
|
|
| G143 | CRIMINAL LAW |
|
 |
| G144 | CRIMINAL LAW (SPECIAL STUDY) |
|
|
To commence studying for units G143 AND G144 students must have successfully completed units G141 and G142 and been awarded grade C or above (the award of grade D will mean that continuation will be at the tutor's discretion).
The successful completion of the units G141 and G142 will result in the award of the Advanced Subsidiary GCE in Law.
Assessment
| Unit Number | Unit Title |
Weighting AS Level |
Weighting A2 Level |
| G141 | ENGLISH LEGAL SYSTEM | 60% |
30% |
| G142 | SOURCES OF LAW | 40% |
20% |
| G143 | CRIMINAL LAW | -- |
30% |
| G144 | CRIMINAL LAW (SPECIAL STUDY) | -- |
20% |
Order of work
Wherever possible the teaching will be delivered in the numerical order of the units.
Student approach to work
Students should recognise that A Level Law is very dynamic in its approach to learning. Classroom work will often depend on the students ability to be self-motivated and work independently of others as well as in teams.
Students will have to adopt a proactive attitude to individual research.
Although the Law teaching staff will help and direct, much of the learning is student centred and requires students to carry out independent research using their own skills and time.
Research of Law can be difficult and the students will have to be adaptable and be able to use many sources of enquiry to find out the information that they need to complete their work.
Essential Reading List
By its very nature, English Law is constantly updating and, hence, reading lists are continually being revised. Students of AS and A2 Law courses are strongly advised to read only texts and materials that have a publication date no more than two years before the commencement of their A level.
Set Law texts will be provided at both AS and A2 levels by the department. However, students are strongly advised to access good quality law texts for their relevant levels before commencement of their studies.