Curriculum overview for A Level Law

Curriculum intent – the knowledge, understanding and skills that students will learn
Students will develop competence in using legal skills during the study of the nature of law, legal issues and the English legal system, and private and public areas of substantive law. They will demonstrate their ability to analyse a scenario by identifying the key facts from which legal issues arise as well as analyse, when formulating a legal argument, legislation by applying the rules and principles of statutory interpretation and analyse case law by applying the doctrine of precedent. Students will learn to analyse, apply and evaluate the legal rules and principles of both private and public substantive law. Analysis and application must include the ability to identify and breakdown into constituent parts the relevant legal rules and principles for each area of law and apply those legal principles to a hypothetical scenario. Evaluation must require students to formulate a reasoned argument to support a particular proposition by reference to the relevant legal rules and principles that support that argument. They will construct clear, concise and logical legal arguments which are substantiated by legal authority, using appropriate legal terminology. They will construct a persuasive argument including instances where they have recognised that there are no clear legal precedents or conflicting precedents to solve a problem. They will analyse and critically evaluate legal issues by identifying different perspectives, being able to support their identification of the strongest viewpoint and demonstrating the ability to counter alternative viewpoints. Students will develop a basic understanding of the distinction between enforceable legal rules and principles and other rules and norms of behaviour, as well as a basic understanding of the differences between criminal and civil law and between different sources of law including custom, statute law and the common law. Students will be able to distinguish law from morality and the relationship between them.

Curriculum implementation – teaching, learning and assessment strategies
Students will learn using independent reading and research tasks as well as wider reading to increase understanding and depth of learning. Content will be revisited with regular low stakes testing to ensure memorisation of the legal elements and principles required to apply to facts of scenarios. Lessons are sequenced to allow for a thorough understanding of the English Legal System and Law making, before students embark on learning the theory of criminal, tort and contract law, so as to create a secure foundation to build upon and enable a depth of understanding required for success in the examinations. Assessment strategies used will be both formal and informal. Questioning throughout delivery will allow for assessment for learning as the content is being delivered or researched. Low stakes testing will allow for assessment of learning as well as opportunities for students to revisit and review previous content. These may take the form of written questions, quizzes or whole class games. More formal assessment would take the form of past examination questions, completed in timed conditions, marked by the teacher, and feedback formally given to address gaps in knowledge or skills.

Curriculum impact – intended outcomes for students 
The study of A Level Law will enable students to understand the role of Law in today's society; to be aware of the rights and responsibilities of individuals and to understand how legal rules apply to real life. During the course, they will develop skills of analysis, decision-making, critical thinking and problem-solving, as well as competence in using legal skills during the study of the nature of law, legal issues and the English legal system, and private and public areas of substantive law. Students will be able to demonstrate their ability to analyse a scenario by identifying the key facts from which legal issues arise; to analyse, when formulating a legal argument, legislation by applying the rules and principles of statutory interpretation and analyse case law by applying the doctrine of precedent; to analyse, apply and evaluate the legal rules and principles in respect of each private and public area of substantive law they are required to study and to formulate a reasoned argument to support a particular proposition by reference to the relevant legal rules and principles that support that argument. By the end of the course, students will be able to construct clear, concise and logical legal arguments which are substantiated by legal authority, using appropriate legal terminology; construct a persuasive argument including instances where they have recognised that there are no clear legal precedents or conflicting precedents to solve a problem; analyse and critically evaluate legal issues by identifying different perspectives, being able to support their identification of the strongest viewpoint and demonstrating the ability to counter alternative viewpoints.

Course overview for A Level Law
Exam board: AQA - https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/law/specifications/AQA-7162-SP-2017.PDF
Coursework:  Not applicable

Paper 1: Criminal Law        
Paper 2: Tort Law        
Paper 3: Contract Law