Psychology

Please apply for all courses via Help You Choose. Applications will open on October 21st.

In order to ensure success in the Sixth Form, we have designed different pathways to suit your individual needs. Please see below for the specific entry criteria. In addition to this, students will need to check the specific entry criteria for their chosen subjects by checking each course descrpition.

The General Pathway

This pathway is for students who are unsure about which way their future will take them and therefore would like to keep their options as open as possible by gaining UCAS points with their Module Two Option.

Module One: three A Levels

Module Three: Enrichment Course

Module Four: Academic Coaching

You will need English and Mathematics at Grade 4 or above and at least four other GCSE subjects at Grade 4 or above.

The Combined Pathway

This pathway is for students who are unsure which way their future will take them and therefore would like to keep their options as open as possible.

Module One – either one of the three below options:

Two A-levels and one specialist qualification (equivalent to one A Level)

One A-level and two specialist qualifications (equivalent to one A Level each)

Three specialist qualifications (equivalent to one A Level each)

Module Two: Enrichment Course

Module Three: Academic Coaching

You will need English or Mathematics at Grade 4 or above and at least four other GCSE subjects at Grade 4 or above.

The Specialist Pathway

This pathway is equivalent to three A Levels and is designed for students who already know which career path they would like to take. Please refer to our on offer to view the range.

Module One: Advanced Specialist Qualification

Module Two: Work Placement

Module Three: Enrichment Course

You will need English or Mathematics at Grade 4 or above and at least four other GCSE subjects at Grade 4 or above.

The Extended Pathway

This pathway is for students aspiring to study at Oxbridge or one of the Russell Group Universities or who want to follow a high-demand course such as Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary, Law or Engineering.

Module One: Three A Levels

Module Two: One Advanced Subsidiary Level

Module Three: Enrichment Course

Module Four: Academic Coaching

You will need English and Mathematics at Grade 5 or above and at least four other GCSE subjects at Grade 5 or above.

The T Level Pathway

This course is equivalent to three A Levels and is designed for students who already know which career path they would like to take.

Module One: T Level Course

Module Two: Industry Placement

You will need English or Mathematics at Grade 4 or above and at least four other GCSE subjects at Grade 4 or above.

Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and human behaviour. Research in Psychology seeks to understand and explain thought, emotion and behaviour. The course enables you to better understand yourself as you learn more about how development occurs and how factors like society and culture impact on behaviour. You will gain a stronger grasp of research methods which means you will be better equipped to sort out the truth from the fiction surrounding many popular Psychology myths. Psychology can also help you become a better communicator and develop critical thinking skills.

AS/Year 12 Units

Unit 1 – Introductory Topics in Psychology

• Social Influence – reasons why we obey those in authority and conformity.

• Memory – long and short term memory, why we forget, eye witness testimonies.

• Attachment – the influence of early childhood attachments on adult relationships.

Unit 2 – Psychology in Context

• Approaches in Psychology – Behavioural, Cognitive and Biological.

• Psychopathology – The Causes and Treatment of Mental Disorders such as OCD, Phobias and Depression.

• Research Methods – How to conduct Research, Analyse and Interpret Data.

• Biopsychology - The central and Peripheral Nervous System, Functions of the Endocrine System, Glands and Hormones.

A Level/Year 13 Units

Unit 2 – Psychology in Context (Continued from Year 12)

• Approaches in Psychology – Psychodynamic, Humanistic and Comparison of the approaches

• Biopsychology - Localisation of function of the brain, ways of studying the brain, and biological rhythms

• Research Methods

Unit 3 - Issues and Options in Psychology

• Issues and Debates

• One topic from EITHER Relationships, Gender or Cognitive Development.

• One topic from EITHER Schizophrenia, Eating Behaviour or Stress.

• One topic from EITHER Aggression, Forensic Psychology or Addiction.

AS Assessment Two written papers each worth 50%

A Level Assessment Three written papers each worth 33.3%

You will need to achieve the pathway criteria, please see the prospectus for further information

You will need to achieve a Grade 5 or above in Mathematics, English Language and Science

Studying Psychology will give many options such as progression to Higher Education or for your career plans, especially if you are interested in working with people or in areas that need good problem solving skills including Management and Human Resources, Education, Public Sector Work, Health and Social Care, Marketing, Public Relations and Medicine. Careers specifically related to Psychology include: Child, Education, Forensic and Clinical Psychologists.