Psychology

Psychology is part of the Social Studies Faculty

• Mrs G Gohil - Al-Sheikh - Head of Faculty
• Miss H Smith - Head of Psychology
• Mr N Appel - Teacher of  Psychology

Click here to view the Psychology Learning Journey

Please click below for detailed Programmes of Study:

The Curriculum

The Psychology curriculum is a two year journey which is designed to support the school’s intent of developing students to learn, love and live to achieve life in all its fullness. We develop wisdom, knowledge and skill through encouraging scientific enquiry, critical thinking and analysis providing students with the tools necessary to communicate effectively in their written and oral work. Students will develop greater understanding of how to live amongst others and make others feel valued, demonstrating dignity and respect for differing views and cultures and an awareness of how one’s environment influences behaviour. We want students to love learning psychology and so our curriculum is designed to expose them to as wide and diverse a range of topics as possible. 

 

Key Stage 5

Students study the AQA specification which, in the first year, introduces six main areas of Psychology: Social Influence, Memory, Attachment, Research Methods, Approaches and Psychopathology. Students will gain an AS level qualification by sitting two papers at the end of the year. Due to changes in A level qualification structuring from September 2015, the AS level grade will not contribute towards an A level grade.
Students continuing into the second year will gain an A level qualification by sitting three papers at the end of the two years. The three papers will assess first and second year topics. Students will be required to write longer essays in the A level papers, compared to the AS level papers.
Psychology in the second year becomes more specialised. Students will study Issues and Debates in Psychology, Forensic Psychology, Gender, Schizophrenia and Research Methods. The second year topics will be assessed alongside the first year topics in the A level exams.

Homework

At KS5 homework is essential if students are to achieve or exceed their target grade. Homework tasks will be based around preparing students for the exam through completing short answer questions, essay writing, re-drafting work, past exam papers and revision or researching key topics and studies in preparation for lessons.

Extra-curricular

Revision/homework/tutorial sessions
Enrichment trips to: Auschwitz, New York, The Freud Museum, The Science Museum and Revision Conferences.

Useful Websites

www.aqa.org.uk
www.psychlotron.og.uk
www.tutor2u.net/psychology
www.simplypsychology.org