Psychology

Curriculum Intent

In Psychology, our curriculum intent is:

  • For students to gain a deep understanding of research methods to be able to design, conduct and evaluate psychological research into a wide and complex range of behaviours.
  • For students to develop critical and analytical thinking skills.
  • For students to develop a thorough understanding of how the body and mind interact to affect human behaviour.
  • For students to become reflective of their own and others behaviour and how to interact with and support those affected by issues studied in psychology.

Curriculum Plan

Psychology Curriculum Plan 2022 2023

Course Overview

Year 1 –

  • Approaches
  • Social influences
  • Memory
  • Attachment
  • Psychopathology
  • Research methods

Year 2 –

  • Biopsychology
  • Forensic psychology
  • Relationships
  • Schizophrenia
  • Issues and debates
  • Research methods

Assessment

Paper 1 7182/1 – Introductory Topics in Psychology
Social Influence
Memory
Attachment
Psychopathology

Assessment – 2 hours – 33.3% of A level mark

Paper 2 7182/2 – Psychology in context
Approaches in psychology
Biopsychology
Research methods

Assessment – 2 hours – 33.3% of A level mark

Paper 3 7182/3 – Issues and Options in Psychology
Issues & debates in psychology
Relationships
Schizophrenia
Forensic Psychology

Assessment – 2 hours – 33.3% of A level mark

Exam Board Information

AS and A-level Psychology

Reading List

The Lucifer Effect – Philip Zimbardo

Psychology: The Science of Mind and Behaviour – Richard Goss

How the Mind Works – Steven Pinker

Snakes in Suits: When Psychopaths Go to Work – Paul Babiak

Phantoms in the Brain – V S Ramachandran

Statistics Without Tears – Derek Rowntree

Mindwatching– H J and M W Eysenck

The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat – Oliver Sacks

The Psychopath Test by John Ronson – Psychopathology

What happened to you – Ophara

Future Steps

  • Psychology A Level can lead to degrees in Psychology, Science, criminology or health.
  • Career paths including industrial, clinical, educational or forensic psychology, counselling or therapy.
  • This qualification can also lead to careers in policing, law and social work.

Trips

Shrewsbury Prison

Sixth Form Social Sciences classes paid a visit to Shrewsbury Prison, where they discovered what life would be like for prisoners, officers and visitors. It was an insightful trip for our Sociology and Psychology students, as both courses explore aspects of crime and criminals.