A Level - Psychology

This is open to all students who achieve above the minimum GCSE grade requirement for entry to the sixth form at St Peter’s RC High School.

The Psychology A Level is an excellent qualification which takes a robust approach to assessment via formal examinations at the end of the 2-year course. Psychology is a S.T.E.M. subject and prepares students very thoroughly for university study. In addition, Psychology A Level prepares students for employment and degree-level apprenticeships, particularly in areas where data analysis skills and understanding of scientific processes are required.

As students in A Level Psychology are constantly learning how to think and write as scientists, the breadth and depth of study is an excellent preparation for students who wish to move into challenging post-18 opportunities for study and research. This includes students who will wish to study Psychology, Biological sciences, Physiotherapy, Occupational therapy and Medicine.

Intent

Research in psychology refers to theories and studies – any attempt to understand human behaviour. The purpose of the A Level Psychology curriculum is to provide training in how to research human behaviour as a scientist. This requires education in reading, explaining, using and criticizing psychological research and research methods. Psychology has developed in such a way that has resulted in at least six separate approaches to research; each has its merits and some disadvantages also. A student in psychology enters the course with intention of being able to compare approaches and to assess which provides the most valid conclusions. This is carried out in explaining schizophrenia, for example.

Implementation

In year 12 we start with a detailed study of psychoanalysis, behaviourism, the cognitive and biological/evolutionary psychology approaches, cognitive neuroscience and humanistic psychology. After studying the different approaches, we carry out a detailed review of biopsychological theories and methods used in biopsychology, including the study of fMRI and brain dissection methods. We then study all of the experimental and non-experimental research methods as well as the descriptive statistical and inferential statistical analysis methods used in writing up scientific research reports. We move on for the remainder of the course to applying our understanding of psychology in the study of memory, attachment, social influence, clinical psychology, schizophrenia, forensic psychology. Finally, we consider the issues that have affected scientific research in psychology as well as the debates between different approaches over free will or reductionism, for example. We consider the seriousness of issues and debates for psychology and evaluate the extent to which issues and debates have been resolved or can possibly be resolved.

Impact

There are regular meaningful homework assessments. Students have the opportunity to improve with clear feedback and targets. Assessment of progress is through tests carried out under exam conditions.

The final examinations are:

• 3 papers. Time allowed for each paper: 2 hours
• Each paper is worth a maximum of 96 marks, making the overall combined maximum 288 marks 
• There are 10 exam paper sections worth 24 marks
• There is one exam paper section worth 48 marks
• 16-mark extended writing questions are set in the 24-mark sections. There is always a minimum of six 16-mark questions set over the three papers
• The basic pass is an E grade. The highest grade available is an A* grade.

Curriculum Overview by Year Group and Term