Exam Board: AQA
Level: 2

Course Overview

Psychology aims to provide a foundation for the scientific understanding of fundamental  human behaviours. We work to develop lifelong skills and understanding in order for students to appreciate different perspectives and think holistically regarding the reasons why we, and others in society behave the way that we do. Through the study of psychology we aim to encourage students to question everything, develop intellectual curiosity and to be able to critically evaluate theories and methods of investigation

Assessment: The course is examined with students sitting two external examinations (each worth 50% of the A level) at the end of the second year. All exams are 1 hour 45 minutes and are compiled from short and longer style exam answers.

Exam Board: AQA
Level: 3

Course Overview

This course has been designed to provide a broad introduction to the scope and nature of psychology as a science, while including a large amount of topics from different psychological fields such as health psychology, developmental and cognitive psychology as well as neuroscience and biopsychology.

The curriculum will support learners to make connections between different sciences, mathematics and English, to also consider the ethical aspects of a range of topics and gain a well- rounded knowledge in order to consider different pathways.

Assessment: The course is examined with students sitting three external examinations (each worth 33.3% of the A level) at the end of the second year. All exams are two hours and are compiled from short and longer style exam answers.

Term 1: 

• Research Methods topic - How do we conduct research methods in psychology?
• Memory - What is memory and to what extent is it accurate?

Term 2: 

• Research Methods: topic - How do we conduct research methods in psychology?
• Memory topic - What is memory and to what extent is it accurate?

Term 3: 

• Development topic - What are the features of cognitive development? How does this influence learning?

Term 4: 

• Perception - How do we perceive the world?

Term 5: 

• Social Influence - How is group behaviour influenced by various factors?

Term 6: 

• Language, thought and communication topic - What’s the relationship between language thought and communication?

Term 1: 

• Language, thought and communication topic - What’s the relationship between language thought and communication?

Term 2: 

• Brain and Neuropsychology topic - How has neuropsychology advanced the study of psychology?

Term 3:

• Psychological Problems topic - How does improving our understanding of mental illness allow us to treat it better? 

Term 4: 

• Psychological Problems topic - How does improving our understanding of mental illness allow us to treat it better? 

Term 5: 

• Formal examination preparation - How can we effectively consolidate our psychological knowledge to achieve in our end of year exams?

Term 6: 

• NA - Course end

Term 1:

• Approaches in Psychology topic: How do we explain the emergence of psychology?

• Research Methods topic: How do we conduct research in psychology?

• Memory topic: What are the mechanisms that underpin memory?

Term 2:

• Memory topic: What factors can influence the accuracy of memory?

• Biopsychology topic: How does the brain and nervous system function?

• Research Methods topic: How do we conduct research in psychology?

Term 3:

• Research Methods topic: How do we conduct research in psychology?

• Attachment topic: What is the purpose of attachment behaviour in humans? How does attachment impact later behaviour?

Term 4:

• Social Influence topic: How is group behaviour influenced by various factors? How can minority groups be influential in affecting social change

Term 5:

• Clinical psychology & Mental health topic: How does improving our understanding of mental illness allow us to treat it better?

• Formal mock examination preparation - How can we effectively consolidate our psychological knowledge to achieve in our mock exams?

Term 6:

• Approaches in Psychology topic: How do the psychological approaches differ in their explanations of human behaviour?

• Biopsychology topic: How does the brain and nervous system function?

• Research Methods topic: How do we select and conduct statistical analysis of research? How do you design this psychological investigation?

Term 1:

• Issues and Debates topic: What are the key issues in the study of psychology? What are the implications of psychological research on wider society?

• Biopsychology topic: How can new life experience allow brain plasticity? How can we study the brain? 

Term 2:

• Addiction: What factors contribute to the development of addiction? How can we explain the development of addiction behaviour? How does improving our understanding of mental illness allow us to treat it better?

• Relationships topic: What are the factors affecting attraction in romantic relationships? To what extent can we apply economic theories to romance?

Term 3:

• Relationships topic: How do virtual relationships differ from face to face relationships? 

Term 4:

• Schizophrenia topic: Why has the diagnosis and classification been historically inaccurate? How does improving our understanding of mental illness allow us to treat it better?

• Formal examination preparation - How can we effectively consolidate our psychological knowledge to achieve in our end of year exams?

Term 5:

• Formal examination preparation - How can we effectively consolidate our psychological knowledge to achieve in our end of year exams?
   

Term 6: 

• NA - Course end

Simply Psychology
Tutor2U

Key Stage 4

• AQA Psychology for GCSE: Revision guide 

• My Revision Notes: AQA GCSE (9-1) Psychology

Key Stage 5

• AQA A Level Psychology revision guide

• A Level Year 2 Psychology: The Mini Companion,

• GCSE OSL runs every Friday after school from 3pm-4pm
• A level OSL runs every Thursday after school from 3pm-4pm
• Support is offered to the students during lunch and after school sessions