Psychology

Our Psychology curriculum is focused on the AQA A Level specification. The intent is for our students to develop their analytical thinking, critical consideration of a range of age friendly topics, ultimately encouraging the independent cognitive ability that is necessary for post 18 opportunities.  

The Psychology curriculum is logically organised by the exam board in terms of the units to be delivered. Unit 1 titled ‘Introductory Topics in Psychology’ is taught first, Unit 2 titled ‘Psychology in Context’ next and finally, Unit 3 titled ‘Issues and Options in Psychology’ is taught solely in year 13. Each unit builds on common elements from previous learning, such as debates surrounding the basis of human behaviour. 

It is essential that students get a solid understanding of research methods, and therefore, we regularly revisit content throughout the two years. We start year 12 exploring the basis of the experimental method, and this is then embedded in the first topic we study. We follow this strategy throughout the first year of study with the aim of delivering the entire research methods content before students start year 13. This allows us to regularly revisit the material to ensure that exam technique is refined before the final examinations, as research methods is assessed across all three units.