Psychology

Students studying psychology will have the opportunity to think about why people behave the way they do, and will be encouraged to think critically about the explanations of behaviour currently offered.  

Students will consider how our memory works, what perception is and how this can be affected, the stages of development children go through and how we are influenced by those around us.  Throughout this first year of study students will develop the skill to evaluate research and will be able to understand the different research methods used by psychologists.  During the second year of study students will consider how human communication differs from animal communication, will be introduced to neuropsychology and will consider the psychological problems people face in their day to day lives.

At the end of the GCSE course students will complete 2 exams which comprise multiple choice questions, short answer questions and long answer questions.

In KS5 students will build upon the skills gained during KS4 science and will study in more breadth and depth the research methods used in psychology.  As well as research methods, students in the first year of their A level will consider the influences of others on our own behaviour, how our memory works and why it sometimes fails, how attachment in our childhood can impact later life, what it means to be ‘normal’ and how different psychologists approach psychology differently.  During the second year of study students will consider the current issues and debates in psychology along with a look at relationships, schizophrenia and finishing their studies with a consideration of forensic psychology.

At the end of the course students will complete 3 exams which include a mix of multiple choice questions, short answer questions and essay type questions.

Hours of lessons per fortnight for this subject:

- KS4: 5

- KS5: 8

AQA GCSE Psychology 

AQA A Level Psychology

14 fully equipped science laboratories

Weekly revision clubs