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Psychology

Curriculum Intent

Psychology is the scientific study of the human mind and its functions, especially those affecting behaviour in a given context. There is a common misconception that Psychology is similar to Philosophy, or at most, a ‘soft science’. Whilst Psychology has philosophical roots, the subject as we know it today is certainly a science. Biology, chemistry, mathematics and statistics are key components of psychological investigations and theories.

By the time students complete their studies at Lampton School, we aim for them to have developed a critical understanding of the factors that shape us as individuals. They will have acquired a great overview of core psychological theories—from cognitive development and social influence to biological underpinnings of behaviour—as well as practical skills in research design, data analysis (both quantitative and qualitative), critical evaluation, and academic writing. Alongside these, they will have cultivated positive dispositions—curiosity, ethical awareness, resilience in the face of complex questions, and empathy for diverse perspectives.

They will be able to engage thoughtfully in discussions about the influence of nature versus nurture on human behaviour and communicate their ideas in a logical, structured, and coherent manner. Additionally, they will understand how to conduct scientific research and present their findings in a formal report.

Our curriculum supports these aims by providing a solid grounding in psychological theories, encouraging students to apply their learning to current affairs, developing their ability to plan and write analytical essays, and offering regular opportunities to design and carry out independent research projects.

Curriculum Overview:

	Autumn 1	Autumn 2	Spring 1	Spring 2	Summer 1	Summer 2
	Topics/skills	Topic/skills	Topic/skills	Topic/skills	Topic/skills	Topic/skills
Y12	Approaches, Psychopathology, and Research methods	Psychopathology, Research methods and Schizophrenia	Biopsychology and Research methods	Attachment and Research methods	Relationships and Research methods	REVISION EXAMS
Y13	Issues and debates and Memory	Forensic psychology	Social influence	REVISION	REVISION EXAMS

A level exam board & specification: AQA PSYCHOLOGY A- LEVEL : https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/psychology/a-level/psychology-7182/specification/specification-at-a-glance

Textbook(s):

AQA A Level Psychology Year 1: By Cara Flanagan, Dave Berry, Matt Jarvis, and Rob Liddle

ISBN: 9781036014858

AQA A Level Psychology Year 2: By Cara Flanagan, Dave Berry, Matt Jarvis, and Rob Liddle

ISBN: 9781036015190

How to help your child:

Support with Organisation
Psychology is a new subject for most students, so strong organisation is essential. Encourage your child to complete all flipped learning homework to a high standard, ensuring that all assessment objectives are clearly addressed. It’s also important that they keep their homework, class notes, and lesson booklets well-organised in clearly labelled folders for each exam paper.
Practice Exam Technique
Exam success in Psychology relies heavily on the ability to plan and write essays under timed conditions. Encourage your child to regularly practise writing essay plans and full responses within time limits. Building speed and confidence with exam-style questions is key to performing well in the final assessments.
Encourage Wider Learning
Psychology involves a wide range of theories and studies. Supporting your child in exploring research and reading beyond the course content will deepen their understanding of how psychological research is conducted. This will not only strengthen their grasp of research methods but also prepare them to design and carry out their own psychological investigation in the summer term.

What opportunities for enrichment are there in Psychology?

Pupils are offered the opportunity to attend a taster session at Royal Holloway where they can understand the academic requirements of continuing their studies in Psychology. This also gives the opportunity to work alongside students completing their doctoral research.

Additionally, pupils are offered the opportunity to attend a conference called ‘Psychology In Action.’ This is an informative session where students get a real insight into how different psychological theories can influence our lives beyond the classroom.

What careers can success in Psychology lead to?

Success in Psychology opens the door to a wide range of fulfilling careers by equipping students with both academic knowledge and transferable skills that are highly valued across many industries.

Psychology can lead directly to careers in mental health and wellbeing, such as clinical psychology, but it can also offer various routes into education, research and public services, such as Human Resources.

As students move through the subject, they not only gain a deep academic understanding of psychological theories and research methods, but also acquire practical skills—like analysis, communication, and problem-solving—that prepare them for success at university, in apprenticeships, or directly in the workplace. It also helps pupils develop key personal qualities such as critical thinking and resilience which allows all to excel in any career.

Other information:

What can I expect from studying Psychology?

Level of Difficulty

Psychology has many sub-disciplines, and over the course of two years, you will study a range of different areas in Psychology. Whilst these theories may be interesting, they can be quite difficult to grasp the first time, which makes flipped learning before class crucial. At A-Level, students are required to think critically and evaluate complex theories and research, therefore, extended reading in your independent study time ensures your level of understanding is deep enough to be able to do this at the level required.

This subject also requires good mathematical skills as 10% of each paper is graded on this, and a further 25% on data analysis and statistics.

Workload

Psychology is not exclusively essay-based, however it is a large part of the subject. You will be required to write essays regularly, and complete mini-research projects where you are required to write a short report. You will also be assessed regularly through the end of unit tests.

Required Individual Study

You will need to complete pre-reading tasks before you come into class. The minimum requirement to pass the course with an average grade is 5 hours of homework a week – outside of class. The most successful students also read beyond the specification.

How is it assessed?

This subject is 100% exam based – there is no coursework.

A-Level exams:

Paper 1 – Introductory topics in Psychology (2h)

Paper 2 – Psychology in context (2h)

Paper 3 – Issues and options in psychology (2h)

For further information, contact: Deesha Sharma- dsharma@lampton.org.uk