Psychology

Aims

Psychology is a fascinating science concerned with the study of the mind and behaviour. Psychologists study thought and behaviour at many levels - from the detailed structure and function of the brain, through to social and cultural processes in an attempt to gain a clearer vision of who we are and why we do what we do. In pursuing this science of the mind, Psychology, we discover how to decipher the world around us and, of course, our world within. In doing so, we gain a completely different idea of the things we know best. The skills you learn at A Level will readily transfer to many other careers. Entry requirement Above all, students should have an interest in learning about ‘what makes humans tick’, the ability to express themselves well in writing, be analytical and have an interest in scientific enquiry, be able to cope with a high level of subject content and have the capability to think critically. Course structure

The Psychology department follows the AQA A Level Psychology specification. The A Level comprises of three examinations at the end of the two-year course.

Lower Sixth

Paper One: Social influence, memory and attachment Paper Two: Psychopathology, approaches in psychology, including biopsychology, and research methods The first year of the A Level course is assessed by two 1 hour 30 minute internal examinations, the content of both is compulsory. Each paper consists of multiple choice, short answer and extended answer questions

Upper Sixth

Paper One: Social influence, memory, attachment and psychopathology Paper Two: Approaches in psychology, biopsychology and research methods Paper Three: Issues and debates plus three optional topics The A Level is assessed by three two-hour examinations. The content of Paper One, Two and section A of Paper Three are compulsory Each paper consists of multiple choice, short answer and extended answer questions

Career opportunities

Studying Psychology enables students to develop their abilities to analyse and evaluate information, think critically and apply theories to everyday situations. It combines well with such subjects as History, Geography, Business, the Sciences, Philosophy and Ethics, Mathematics and English. Psychology offers good career prospects as it bridges the natural and social sciences, applying scientific methods to human behaviour, and interfaces with fields such as education, health, information technologies, philosophy and social policy.