Psychology at SRWA

• We want our students to develop a sense of curiosity and critical thinking about psychological research and theories.
• We want them to use new knowledge and understanding, to describe how psychological research can explain different aspects of human behaviour and to be able to critically evaluate this research.
• We want them to develop the ability to apply their knowledge of psychological theories, to explain behaviours in given scenarios and real-life.
• We want them to be able to contrast and compare different psychology approaches using evidence, and evaluate their effectiveness in explaining human behaviour.
• We want them to develop their understanding of the scientific method, so that they can carry out their own psychological research.
• We want them to develop their psychological terminology, so that they can precisely articulate their understanding of complex psychological concepts.

Following the AQA specification in year 12, the curriculum focuses on approaches and methods related to the core areas of Psychology which include cognitive, social, biological, developmental, individual differences and research methods. These topics have been chosen as they are the foundations of psychology upon which theories of human behaviour and psychology research are built.

Students will study research methods throughout the course, so they can develop skills in data handling and analysis whilst also acquiring an understanding of scientific processes.

In year 13, students will build on their understanding of psychology in context through studying the biopsychology topic. This topic incorporates psychology, neuroscience and biology and explores how different parts of the body interact and how this impacts upon human behaviour.

Students will then study the topic issues and debates. This requires students to make decisions based on research and incorporate their prior knowledge of psychology to reach conclusions.

Students will then deepen their knowledge of psychology learning the topics needed for paper 3 including, schizophrenia, relationships and aggression.

Studying Psychology allows students to develop their analytical skills and learn about scientific research methods, including collecting and working with data. Learning about human behaviour will also help students to build their communication skills and improve their teamwork and leadership skills.

Therefore, Psychology is useful for any job that requires lots of interaction or an understanding of human behaviour and development. The wide range of skills that students develop when studying psychology opens the door to many career opportunities including social work, business, management, sport, teaching, research, and careers in medicine and healthcare.

Skills including critical analysis, independent thinking and research, which students build on during the psychology A level course, are valued by higher education and will serve as an asset to students if they intend to continue their studies at university.