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Psychology

Curriculum Intent

  • Develop essential knowledge and understanding of different areas of psychology and how they relate to each other supporting the psychology as a science debate
  • Develop and demonstrate a deep appreciation of the skills, knowledge and understanding of scientific methodology and scientific rigour in compiling a body of academic work
  • Develop competence and confidence in a variety of practical, mathematical and problem solving skills
  • Develop their interest in and enthusiasm for the subject, including developing an interest in further study and careers associated with the subject, via examining essential career pathways related to psychology
  • Understand how society makes decisions about scientific issues and how the sciences contribute to the success of the economy and society, including key areas such as the classification and diagnosis mental disorders

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 changing wider world. The Psychology curriculum via the use of the Thinking Schools strategies, will enable our learners to value the importance of Psychological research and will promote an awe-driven curiosity of the human body and mind.

Studying Psychology will give you fundamental and lasting insights into human behaviour; you will learn about the main approaches in this subject (Biological; Cognitive; Social; Developmental and Individual Differences). The research in Psychology ranges from controlled experiments on humans (power of the authority figure to conformity in administering electric shocks) to long term case studies (deprivation studies).

How will you be assessed?

GCSE Level:

Paper 1 :                                            

Studies and applications in psychology 1

  • Criminal Psychology
  • Development
  • Psychological Problems
  • Research Methods                     

90 marks

Written paper   1 hour 30 minutes

50% of total GCSE

 

Paper 2:

Studies and applications in psychology 2

  • Influence Social
  • Memory
  • Research Methods
  • Sleep and Dreaming                  

90 marks

Written paper 1 hour 30 minutes

50% of total GCSE

Year 10

Term 1Term 2Term 3Term 4Term 5Term 6

Component 1 - Research Methods and Criminal Psychology

Component 1 – Criminal Psychology and Developmental

Component 1 - Developmental Psychology

Component 1 - Psychological Problems

Component 1 - Psychological Problems


Component 2 - Memory

Component 2 - Memory

 

Year 11

Term 1Term 2Term 3Term 4Term 5Term 6
Component 2 - Sleep and Dreaming Component 2 - Sleep and Dreaming Component 2 - Social influence Component 2 - Social influence  and Research MethodsRevision and Exams GCSE Exams

 

KS4 Learning Journey

Please see attached Key Stage 4 Learning Journey for Psychology.

Click here for the KS4 Psychology Learning Journey

How will you be assessed?

Advanced level: 

The course is 100% externally examined.  The course is divided into three components:

Component 1 Research Methods – 30% of the overall course. This component has three elements which include a multi-choice section, stimulus response section and a mathematical data analysis section.

Component 2 Psychological Themes through Core Studies – 35% of the overall course. Students will answer a range of short and essay style question on ten sets of classic and contemporary core studies.

Component 3 Applied psychology – 35% of the overall course. Students answer extended questions relating to three areas of applied psychology, of which, mental health is the compulsory element.

What will  you study?

 
 Research MethodsThis component introduces the student to the world of research methods whereby, they actively engage in their own practical research investigations.  Through the first hand experiences of collecting data via a range of methods and techniques, students will be able to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of different techniques.
 Psychological themes through core studiesThis exciting component draws upon classic core studies and contemporary studies, to appreciate how psychological knowledge and understanding has developed over time. There are ten pairs of studies to cover behaviours ranging from child aggression to brain abnormality.  Media sources are analysed in detail for their applications and engagement with psychological research.
 Applied psychologyThis insightful applied unit examines how the research an and theories in psychological theory have an impact on life in certain areas.  The compulsory unit is “issues in mental health” plus students learn from two other optional units, choosing from:

 

  • Child psychology
  • Criminal psychology
  • Environmental psychology
  • Sport and exercise psychology

Year 12

Term 1Term 2Term 3Term 4Term 5Term 6
C1 Research Methods, Experimental. C1 Research Methods, Non – experimental  C2 Biological Approach, Sperry and Casey, C2 Cognitive Psychology, Loftus and Grant.   C2 Social Approach, Milgram and Bocchario, C1 and C2 Prelims exam consolidationC2 Individual Differences, Freud and Baron-Cohen. C2 Section C Applications to Practical Learning Scenarios focus.  Developmental Psychology, Bandura and Chaney. C2 Section B Focus Issues and DebatesC2 Biological Approach, Blakemore & Cooper and Maguire. C2 Cognitive Psychology. Moray and Simons & Chabris. C2 Developmental psychology, Kohlberg and Lee. C1 – How Science Works. C2 – Section C Applications of Psychology to real life situationsC2 Individual Differences, Gould and Hancock. C2 and C3 Issues and Debates.  C2 Social Psychology, Pilivain and Lee.
C2 and C3 The Perspectives (Behaviorism and Psychodynamic)		Prelim preparation. Student responses to prelims Consolidation of Issues, Debates and Approaches

 

Year 13

Term 1Term 2Term 3Term 4Term 5Term 6
C3 Issues in Mental Health. C3 Criminal PsychologyC3 Issues in Mental Health. C3 Criminal Psychology

C3 Child Psychology or Sports Psychology. C3 -Issues and Debates and applications 

Synoptic Paper

C3 Child Psychology or Sports Psychology. C3 -Issues and Debates and applications 

Synoptic Paper

Revisions

Revision

KS5 Learning Journey

Please see attached Key Stage 5 Learning Journey for Psychology.

Click here for the KS5 Psychology Learning Journey

Online Learning Support

GCSE Online Support

Careers

Taking Psychology as an option will change your life. Besides learning about human behaviour, you will also learn how to express yourself coherently, how to challenge information, how to be confident about yourself, how to be a more self-aware person!   Progression to University in a wide range of subjects and a variety of careers and professions including the public services, media, human resources, the law, education, research and in the fields of applied Psychology itself. Without a doubt Psychology is relevant to every sphere of industry.

https://www.ucas.com/explore/subjects/psychology

British Values

The Holcombe Psychology Department has selected the OCR specification for the inclusive and wide range of applied examples and research which promote respect, mutual understanding and tolerance throughout the two year course. For example in areas of child development, moral development and mental disorders students will learn to learn and reflect in an unbiased way the impact of the situation versus dispositional factors, in behaviours. Additionally, in the study of Forensics students will research and learn about examples of human behaviour in relation to interactions between the morality, rules of law, legal procedures and the criminalisation process. The specification addresses universal issues such as phobias, social influence, classification of intelligence in different parts of the world, looking at themes of universality and cultural practises in society to continue in the contribution of a scientific and academic body of research.

At GCSE level “OCR are enriching and supporting our qualification by working with Time to Change, England’s biggest programme to challenge mental health stigma and discrimination, run by the charities Mind and Rethink Mental Illness” (ocr.org.uk, 2020)

The OCR specification selected has opportunities for the investigation element into the field of psychological sciences researching abnormal and normal behaviours and classifications, in topic areas, demonstrating synoptic skills and critical awareness, learning first hand the challenges of creating universal scientific laws of human behaviour and the challenges in this process.