Psychology
Curriculum intent
At Hayes School, our commitment is to provide moments of joy, support pupils to thrive beyond our gates, and nurture community and character through a curriculum that is conceptual, inclusive and responsive. Our values — kindness, endeavour, inclusivity and responsibility — shape every aspect of this curriculum. They ensure that every pupil, particularly the most disadvantaged and vulnerable, is known, supported and challenged to achieve highly and to flourish in school and beyond.
Purpose
To develop courageous, intellectual, contemporary psychologists. The intent for the Psychology curriculum is to ensure that our young psychologists are equipped with the necessary scientific knowledge, skills and vocabulary to develop a better understanding of themselves and the wider world. In addition, the psychology curriculum will enable our learners to value the importance of Psychological research and will promote an awe-driven curiosity of the human body and mind.
Specification Information
A Level AQA Psychology
Academic End Points |
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| Year 12 |
By the end of year 12, students will acquire foundational knowledge of Psychological Approaches, theories, core studies and research methods. This course begins with an induction period where students are introduced to core concepts, skills and the course content. Following this, the order of delivery focuses first on introducing approaches (as this introduces key underlying principles and the history of the development of Psychology as a discipline) and research methods as these form the basis for understanding and evaluating further topics. Additionally, emphasis at this stage is placed on introducing and mastering the extensive use of subject terminology unfamiliar to Year 11 who have not studied Psychology at GCSE. Students will be then be taught the Clinical Psychology and Memory topics as connections are easily made to the methodology and perspectives taught in Approaches and Research methods. Students then move onto the biopsychology topic as it links back to approaches and the features of science, alongside clinical psychology which also draws upon previously built understanding of the differing approaches. Finally, students study the social influence and attachment topics, before finishing the year with the data analysis section of research methods. Note that research methods is taught in two stages rather than in one go – due to the ‘dry’ nature of this topic and the fact that the statistical analysis section would be too overwhelming if taught at the start of the course. Students will continually draw upon cross-curricular links between their prior GCSE attainment in English, Maths, History, Geography, Sociology and Science. Year 12 students will explore how psychologists evaluate theories and topics in real-world contexts and will develop their evaluative academic voice. From the outset students will be exposed to the variety of research methods used by Psychologists and engage in mathematical analysis. At the end of each topic students will have the opportunity to design and carry out their own mini practical with the aim to put research methods skills learnt in term 1 into practice. |
| Year 13 |
By the end of year 13, students will refine their knowledge and a critical understanding of Psychological explanations, theories and core studies. They will build upon their foundational knowledge of the core approaches which they are encouraged to apply when learning the optional topic areas, Forensic Psychology, Schizophrenia and Relationships. They will be able to confidently evaluate theories and topics in real-world contexts through developing and using their own evaluative academic voice. Year 13 students will be encouraged to consistently make synoptic connections across all units of study and display a strong command of specialist terminology in their discussions of issues and debates in psychology. Ultimately, students will become contemporary psychologists cognisant of how psychological theories change and develop over time. Year 13 begins with the Issues and debates topic which will utilise synoptic connections to year 1 content through consistent use of examples. This will also encourage spaced learning and deliberate practice. Then the Schizophrenia and Forensic topics which will be used to embed the Psychological approaches studied in year 12, followed by the Relationships topic. |
