Pathways & Possibilities: Social Sciences for the Globally Aware
In recent years, interest in Social Sciences among Upper College students at Cheltenham College choosing university pathways has grown significantly. This rise has been driven, in part, by an increasingly complex and uncertain global landscape.
As Mrs Paulina De La Fuente, Head of Economics, explains:
“It is impossible to look at the news today without realising that the biggest questions we face—from climate change and global conflict to the rise of AI-are fundamentally human and economic problems.”
Mrs Alex Eldred, Head of Politics, highlights the broad reach of the Social Sciences:
“Studying the Social Sciences allows you to understand how human relationships, institutions, and cultures shape the world around us. Within this field, Politics is crucial because it dictates how power is distributed, how laws are made, and how conflicts in society are resolved.”
Miss Lissa Rogers, Head of Psychology, reinforces the point:
“Studying the Social Sciences has never been more important. We live in a rapidly changing world shaped by technological advances, global challenges, and shifting social attitudes. Psychology helps us understand human behaviour, decision-making, and the forces that shape society.”
Miss Rogers adds that the Social Sciences equip students with essential critical thinking skills, enabling them to navigate complex issues and make meaningful contributions to their communities.
At Cheltenham College, Psychology is one of the most popular subjects at both A Level and BTEC. Its appeal lies in its unique combination of scientific enquiry and real-world relevance. Students are naturally curious about why people think, feel, and behave as they do—making the subject both fascinating and immediately applicable to everyday life.
Students explore a wide range of topics, including memory, attachment, mental health, social influence, and criminal behaviour. Along the way, they develop highly transferable skills such as critical analysis, research methods, data interpretation, and independent learning.
Economics has also seen significant growth, becoming one of the most in-demand Sixth Form choices. The subject sits at the intersection of data and human behaviour, offering a powerful lens through which to understand the world.
What makes Economics so engaging is its immediacy: what is discussed in the classroom in the morning is often reflected in the news by the evening. Students quickly see how theory connects to real-world events. But Economics is far more than the study of money—it is fundamentally about human decision-making and how systems function. Analysing the world through key perspectives enables pupils to explore the bigger picture, including inflation, government policies, and international trade, allowing pupils to understand both the detail and the wider forces shaping global economies.
At Cheltenham College, A Level Politics is a booming subject choice for pupils, frequently serving as a springboard for pupils progressing to top-tier university destinations. The curriculum covers the fundamental mechanisms of the UK government and political systems, ideologies such as conservatism, liberalism, socialism, and feminism, and delves into comparative international politics, contrasting the UK and US systems.
The course is vital because it equips young people with the essential critical thinking and analytical skills required to navigate a turbulent global landscape with nuance, criticality and empathy. By exposing students to the core motivations behind today’s decision-makers, the department prepares pupils to become actively engaged and involved citizens.
Ultimately, the Social Sciences help young people make sense of an increasingly complex world. Rather than seeing global events as isolated or chaotic, students gain the tools to analyse, question, and understand what is happening around them.
Our Pathways & Possibilities series celebrates the journeys of our pupils as they take their next steps beyond College, while supporting current pupils and parents with expert guidance along the way. Each week, we will share a mix of success stories and practical advice from our Higher Education and Careers team to help inspire and inform future pathways.
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