Psychology A Level
Curriculum Intent
To encourage students to look at the world with an informed and enquiring mind. They involve analysing society and the people in it in a way that is informed by theoretical understanding. The examination specifications have been carefully chosen by departmental staff with expertise in each area to ensure the course best fits the needs of our learners.
Why should I study Psychology?
Do you enjoy trying to read people’s behaviour? Are you interested in learning why people behave in a certain way? Perhaps you see yourself working with people and want to know how to get the best out of human relationships.
Psychology is the perfect subject for anyone who is interested in people! This subject will look at various reasons for human behaviour – from genetics and evolution right through to group pressure and the impact of the internet on our virtual relationships. Psychology is a great subject if you are always asking ‘WHY?’
It allows you to investigate the various reasons for human behaviour as well as analysing and evaluating these explanations. This A Level course will give you a great understanding of what psychology is and covers a variety of topics from schizophrenia to attachments. Psychology has links with many disciplines including Biology, Computer and Forensic Science as well as Humanities such as Sociology, Philosophy and Literature. It involves the study of theory, empirical evidence and practical applications. This mix of disciplines helps to make Psychology such a fascinating subject.
Course Outline
Autumn Term 1
- Year 12 – Social influence
- Year 13 – Schizophrenia
Autumn Term 2
- Year 12 – Approaches and Psychopathology
- Year 13 – Forensic Psychology
Spring Term 1
- Year 12 – Memory
- Year 13 – Relationships
Spring Term 2
- Year 12 – Attachment
- Year 13 – Issues and Debate
Summer
- Year 12 – Biopsychology
What skills will I gain?
A Level Psychology aims to:
- Develop essential knowledge and understanding of different areas of Psychology and how they link together
- Develop and demonstrate a deep understanding of the skills and knowledge associated with various scientific methods
- Develop confidence and competence in a variety of practical, mathematical and problem solving skills
Among the many benefits, this new specification is designed to encourage you to:
- Analyse various explanations for behaviour
- Understand the benefits of Psychological research on society
- Engage in designing and carrying out your own pieces of research.
Research methods are taught at regular intervals throughout the course. 10% of the marks on the exams is from Mathematical skills so these are also taught throughout the course.
What career paths is Psychology suitable for?
A Level Psychology can lead to many different university courses. Students may decide to study a pure Psychology degree to develop their knowledge and skills to a deeper level. Students can also access courses on Forensic Psychology, Marketing, Teaching, Law, Physiotherapy, Journalism – in fact the world is your oyster!
Any career that involves working with other people can benefit from an understanding of psychology. Psychology as a subject is developing and evolving all the time – keep up to date on what courses are available at university as these are regularly changing. For example, there are some universities now offering courses on new areas of Therapy including Art or Music Therapy.
There are many different careers that involve Psychology: Occupational Psychology, Forensics, Counselling, Therapist, Research, Education and Sport Coaching.
Entry requirements
- Five GCSEs at grade 4 or above; including English and/or maths.
- National data suggests successful students will have achieved an average points score of 5.56 or more.
Goes well with
Psychology can be successfully combined with a variety of different subjects. This is because it includes elements from Mathematics, Science, English, History and Sport to name but a few. It is very commonly paired with subjects such as Sociology and Health & Social Care for people wanting a career working with people. It also works well with Sport or Business for those wanting a career for example in Coaching, Marketing or Management. Psychology includes many elements of Biology so obviously also works well with the science subjects.