Psychology is one of our newest GCSE options to join the curriculum within our KS4 curriculum, introduced in September 2020. As a school we believe in the power of the psychological curriculum to create self-awareness in our learners, creating an understanding of themselves whilst also increasing their ability to understand others. Through the study of psychological theories, research and infamous thinkers, we believe students understand their place in society to a greater extent through a curriculum that normalises differences and embraces the scientific understanding of the human nature. Within Psychology, students learn the process of learning, its development alongside the process of memory and therefore this only complements wider studies of Mathematics, Science and English requiring a solid understanding in each of these fields to process psychological thinking. We intend, that through the study of Psychology, our students grow in critical thinking, analysis and an understanding of how to analyse information presented but also to understand how information is generated in society, questioning ethics, validity and reliability. We wish our students to understand the contribution of Psychology to individual, social and cultural diversity, understanding the relationship between Psychology and personal, moral, social and cultural issues, developing our students’ own ethical principles in order to become reflective thinkers who can develop arguments and draw conclusions in a critical and scientific manner.
Please see parental overview of the course in KS4 below.
Key Stage 4
| Year 10 | Autumn Term 1 | Autumn Term 2 | Spring 1 | Spring 2 | Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
| Topics Studied for AQA Psychology |
Research Methods | Memory and Perception | Development and Paper 1 Revision | Psychological Problems | Neuropsychology & Social Influence | Language, thought and communication & Paper 2 Revision |
| Skills and Key Knowledge Taught |
Research Methods:
Hypotheses and types of variables. Sampling methods Designing research Correlation Research procedures Planning and conducting research Ethical considerations Data handling Computation and descriptive statistics Interpretation and display of quantitative data Normal distributions |
Memory:
Processes of memory Structures of memory Memory as an active process
Perception: Sensation and perception Visual cues and constancies Gibson’s direct theory of perception – the influence of nature Visual illusions Gregory’s constructivist theory of perception – the influence of nurture Factors affecting perception |
Development:
Early brain development Piaget’s theory Effects of learning on development
Revision of Paper 1: Answering 9 mark questions Exam hints and tips Teacher to tailor to suit the needs of the class. |
Psych Problems:
Intro to mental health MHP on individuals and society Characteristics of clinical depression Theories of depression Interventions or therapies for depression Characteristics of addiction Theories of addiction Interventions or therapies for addiction |
Brain and neuropsychology:
Structure and function of the nervous system Neuron structure and function Structure and function of the brain Intro to neuropsychology
Social Influence: Conformity Obedience Prosocial behaviour Crowd and collective behaviour |
Lang, thought and comm:
Relationship between language and thought Differences between human and animal communication Non-verbal communication Explanations of non-verbal behaviour
Revision of Paper 2: Exam style essay questions. Exam hints and tips. Teacher to tailor to suit the needs of the class. |
| Links for Support/ Help at Home |
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| Year 11 | Autumn Term 1 | Autumn Term 2 | Spring 1 | Spring 2 | Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
| Topics Studied for AQA Psychology |
Neuropsychology & Psychological Problems | Social Influence & Language, Thought and Communication
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Research Methods & Development | Memory & Perception | Assessment Revision Class teacher to tailor to suit the needs of the class. | Assessment Revision Class teacher to tailor to suit the needs of the class.
Exams Undertaken |
| Skills and Key Knowledge Taught |
Brain and neuropsychology:
Structure and function of the nervous system Neuron structure and function Structure and function of the brain Intro to neuropsychology
Psych problems: Intro to mental health MHP on individuals and society Depression: characteristics, theories and therapies. Addiction: characteristics, theories and therapies. |
Social Influence:
Conformity Obedience Prosocial behaviour Crowd and collective behaviour
Lang, thought and comm: Relationship between language and thought Differences between human and animal communication Non-verbal communication Explanations of non-verbal behaviour |
Research Methods:
Designing research Correlation Research procedures Planning and conducting research Ethical considerations Computation and descriptive statistics Interpretation and display of quantitative data Normal distributions
Development: Early brain development Piaget’s theory Effects of learning on development |
Memory:
Processes of memory Structures of memory Memory as an active process
Perception: Sensation and perception Visual cues and constancies Gibson’s direct theory of perception – the influence of nature Visual illusions Gregory’s constructivist theory of perception – the influence of nurture Factors affecting perception |
-Accumulation of all skills and content | -Accumulation of all skills and content |
| Links for Support/ Help at Home |
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