1. Session 1: Measuring social class
Learning objectives – what is your target?
(D-E) Explain what social class is and state a way of measuring it
(C) Describe two different methods for measuring social class
(A*-B) Be able to explain and critique (evaluate) different methods for measuring social class
Starter – Complete this 4 mark question:
“Explain what sociologists mean by social class.”
n.B We will do this again later to compare your progress
Remember the structure:
Basic definition
Full explanation of term
3) Give example
4) Explain example

2. Classes in the UK Upper class Middle class Working class
More power, wealth, income and status
Less power, wealth, income and status
Classes in the UK
Upper class
Middle class
Working class
Underclass?

3. Class according to Karl Marx
More power, wealth, income and status
Less power, wealth, income and status
Class according to Karl Marx
Upper class
Working class

4. Registrar General’s scale
Old method
More power, wealth, income and status
Less power, wealth, income and status
Registrar General’s scale
I Professional occupations
II Managerial
III (N) Skilled non manual
III (M) Skilled manual
IV Partly skilled
V Unskilled
This was used by the government until 1998

5. Doctor’s Receptionist
Activity - Put the following jobs in the correct category according to the registrar general’s scale – use p.286 to help you.
Office cleaner
Doctor’s Receptionist
Biology teacher
Farmer
Unemployed
Bus driver
Car mechanic
Solicitor
Extension: Can you spot any problems with this using this scale? Why do you think the government stopped using it after 1998?

6. Registrar general’s scale
More power, wealth, income and status
Less power, wealth, income and status
Registrar general’s scale
Solicitors, surgeons, architects
Professional occupations
Teachers, nurses, pilots
Managerial
Skilled non manual
Secretary/receptionists
Bus driver, electrician, hairdresser, mechanics
Skilled manual
Partly skilled
Postal worker, bartenders, caretaker
Unskilled
Refuse collectors, cleaners
What are the problems with using
occupation to measure social class?

7. Doesn’t include groups such as… Married women were classed as….
Problem’s with the Registrar General’s scale
Doesn’t include groups such as…
Married women were classed as….
Doesn’t reflect other factors such as…
Students, retired, unemployed…
the same as their husbands…
Wealth, status, property…

8. More power, wealth, income and status
Less power, wealth, income and status
NS-SEC class scale
Higher managerial
Higher professional
Solicitor
Lower managerial
Teachers
Secretaries
Intermediate
Employers (in small businesses)
Farmers
Lower supervisory & technical
Car mechanic
Semi routine
Bus driver
Cleaner
Routine
Never worked & long term unemployed
Unemployed
Activity - Now try to match up the jobs from before to this new scale.
Extension – Can you spot any problems with this scale?

9. Doctor’s Receptionist
Put the following job in the correct category according to the NS-SEC scale – use p.287 to help you.
Office cleaner
Doctor’s Receptionist
Biology teacher
Farmer
Unemployed
Bus driver
Car mechanic
Solicitor

10. Why is this better than the Register general’s scale?
More power, wealth, income and status
Less power, wealth, income and status
NS-SEC class scale
Higher managerial
solicitor
Higher managerial
Lower managerial
teachers
secretaries
Intermediate
Employers
farmers
Lower supervisory
Car mechanic
Semi routine
Bus driver
Routine
cleaner
Never worked
Unemployed
Why is this better than the Register general’s scale?

11. Advantages of NS-SEC scale
Includes whole population
Reflects levels of authority

12. These all mean the same
1) Describe one way the government could measure social class and explain how it may be problematic. (5)
2) Describe one way the government could measure social class and explain how it may not be accurate. (5)
3) Describe one way in which social class can be measured explain problems with this method(5)
4) Describe one way in which social class can be classified and explain problems with this way of classifying people (5)

13. Describe one way of measuring social class and explain how accurate this measurement is. (5)
One way could be using the registrar general’s scale
For example a surgeon is upper class professional
They are not accurate because people may have a professional job but not a lot of money.
This means that it doesn’t take into account other factors.
For example a newly qualified surgeon may still be paying off university debt which means that he does not have the wealth or status of most upper classes people.
2/2
Identify
3/3
Explain
5/5

14. Plenary
Learning objectives – what is your target?
(D-E) Explain what social class is and state a way of measuring it
(C) Describe two different methods for measuring social class
(A*-B) Be able to explain and critique (evaluate) different methods for measuring social class
Using the learning objectives, explain which grade you think you have achieved and why.

15. Session 2 – Social class and Life chances
Learning objectives – what is your target?
(D-E) Define the terms social class and life chances
(C) Identify links between social class and life chances
(A*-B) Explain sociologists’ views on class and life chances
Starter – Complete this 4 mark question again now that you can add a more full explanation (i.e. how it is measured)
“Explain what sociologists mean by social class”
Remember the structure:
Basic definition (what it means)
Full explanation of term (e.g. can you explain how social class is measured?
Give example
Explain example

16. Paired work
You have 30 minutes to prepare an answer to the following question.
“Discuss how far sociologists would agree that social class is the most important factor when determining a person’s life chances. (12 marks)
Hints
All the information you need is on pages – but you’ll have to find it and interpret it
Use the writing frame as a guide
Don’t forget the extensions.

17. Discuss how far sociologists would agree that social class is the most important factor in determining life chances. (12 marks)
10-12
Evidence of clear understanding shown through developed use of relevant sociological concepts and/or ideas
Well-focused discussion which explicitly and in detail addresses ‘how far’.
Spell, punctuate and use grammar with considerable accuracy
Use wide range of specialist terms
7-9
Evidence of a more developed level of understanding of the relevant sociology (i.e. link between social class and life chances).
Evidence that the candidate recognises ‘how far’ eg via a less-developed or more limited use of the sociological examples in the 10–12 band descriptor.
Spell, punctuate and use grammar accurately
Good range of specialist terms
4-6
Some use/understanding of relevant sociological concepts (eg definition of social class and life chances) and/or ideas (eg those from Marxist and Functionalist perspectives), though focus may not be consistent and the quality/range of the material may be limited.
No response to ‘how far’.
Spell, punctuate and use grammar with some accuracy.
Limited specialist terms.

18. Session 3: Does social class still matter?
Learning objectives – what is your target?
(D-E) Identify two reasons why social class may be hard to define
(C) Explain why it may be argued the social class is less important today
(A*-B) Evaluate whether social class is still relevant today
Starter – Explain which social class each of these people belong to. If you have any difficulty, explain why!
2) Lord Alan Sugar (from the Apprentice)
4) School child
3) Unemployed jobseeker
1) Duchess of Cambridge (nee Kate Middleton)

19. So what were the problems with this task?

20. Do we live in a classless society?
“Class was a staple part of the British way of life. Each class had unique characteristics. The upper class had stately homes, aristocratic backgrounds and posh accents; the middle class, semi detached houses, suits and bowler hats; the working class, common accents, fish and chips and council flats. This produced a society divided between Use” (the workers) and “Them” (the rich and the bosses). Pubs always had a public bar and a lounge. Even railway carriages were divided into First, Second and Third class compartments.” McDonough (2002)
Think/Pair/Share
Do you think this statement is accurate? Why? Why not?
Extension: Does this statement sound Marxist or Functionalist? Why?

21. Independent work: All Most Some Read pages 322 – 323
Explain why can it be argued that the working class has shrunk.
Explain why it can be argued that social class identities have weakened.
Identify 3 other factors might we identify as important to our identity other than social class.
Identify the 4 other social factors that Saunders thinks are important in addition to social class.
2) Read page 324
Choose 3 of the bullet points that you think are the most important and copy them into your book (evidence for 12 mark Qs)
3) Read page 325
Summarise each sociologist’s view on whether class still matters:
(i) Roberts (2001)
(ii) Furlong et al (2006)
(iii) Curtice & Heath (2009)
Extension: Answer the stretch and challenge question on page 325
All
Most
Some

22. Summarise this extract in your own words (using the new keyword)
“Fifty years ago there was an almost official and agreed class ranking, and everyone knew where they were located. That has completely gone now. Whereas once it would have been straightforwardly, objectively wrong for someone in a middle-class profession to think of themselves as working class, that’s not necessarily true now. These aren’t terms that have an agreed meaning any more.”
Decca Aitkenhead, The Guardian, 2007
Key term
Subjective status/class = the status/class someone would identify themselves as.
Starter
Summarise this extract in your own words (using the new keyword)
Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Why?

23. Homework due Monday
“Discuss to what extent sociologists would agree that social class is less significant now than 50 years ago.” (12 marks)