Students are introduced to the fundamental concepts of psychology, exploring various approaches such as cognitive, behaviourist, and biological. Emphasis is placed on understanding research methods, with practical research projects to enhance comprehension. Research methods lessons run alongside topic lessons to allow students to consolidate learning through practical activities and research projects.
Throughout the course, students engage in practical research projects to reinforce theoretical concepts and develop skills in data collection, analysis, and interpretation. The curriculum is designed to foster critical thinking, analytical skills, and a deep understanding of psychological principles, preparing students for higher education and diverse career opportunities in psychology and related fields.
Develop the individual:
Students will develop an understanding of the research process involved within Psychology and the different processes of analysis used to understand the significance of data produced. They will reflect on the research process, considering ethical issues such as deception, informed consent and protection from harm.
Create a supportive community:
Students will learn to respect cultural views of research and consider whether results can be applied to all societies.
Psychopathology: Students explore psychological disorders, focusing on definitions, symptoms, and treatment approaches for conditions such as depression, phobias, and OCD. This will be taught alongside preparation for mock exams. Research methods lessons run alongside topic lessons to allow students to consolidate learning through practical activities and research projects.
Mock exams will cover some of the introductory topics in psychology (memory and psychopathology) as well as some paper 2 topics (approaches and research methods).
Develop the individual:
Create a supportive community:
Continued exploration of attachment, complemented by an introduction to statistical tests used in psychological research. Students will delve deeper into psychological approaches and critical issues and debates within the field. Students will also prepare for UCAS exams and complete these during the final term.
Formal end of year UCAS exams – Paper 1 topics (social influence, memory, psychopathology, attachment) and a selection of Paper 2 topics (approaches and research methods).
Develop the individual:
Understanding how memories are made and how forgetting can occur, will afford students the opportunity to develop their study skills.
Create a supportive community:
Students will be able to aid their peers who do not study psychology in their revision and study skills.
This term will examine attachment theories, stages of attachment, and the impact of early relationships on later development. Research methods lessons run alongside topic lessons to allow students to consolidate learning through practical activities and research projects.
Students will be informally assessed throughout the topic, and formally within the mock exams and end of topic assessments. Assessments will comprise of exam style questions and essays. The essays will be written under timed conditions. As the unit progresses students will advance from writing essays with the support of plans to completing unseen questions.
Develop the individual:
Create a supportive community:
The term covers key concepts in social psychology, including conformity, obedience, and the influence of groups on behaviour, Research methods lessons run alongside topic lessons to allow students to consolidate learning through practical activities and research projects.
Students will be informally assessed throughout the topic, and formally within the mock exams and end of topic assessments. Assessments will comprise of exam style questions and essays. The essays will be written under timed conditions. As the unit progresses students will advance from writing essays with the support of plans to completing unseen questions. During the social influence topic students are given the opportunity to conduct their own research. These will form part of their formative assessment of both social influence and research methods.
Develop the individual:
Create a supportive community:
Memory: This module investigates the processes of memory, including encoding, storage, and retrieval, as well as models of memory and explanations for forgetting. Research methods lessons run alongside topic lessons to allow students to consolidate learning through practical activities and research projects.
Students will be informally assessed throughout the topic, and formally within the mock exams and end of topic assessments. Assessments will comprise of exam style questions and essays. The essays will be written under timed conditions. As the unit progresses students will advance from writing essays with the support of plans to completing unseen questions. During the memory topic students are given the opportunity to conduct their own research. These will form part of their formative assessment of both the memory topic and research methods.
Develop the individual:
Create a supportive community: