Psychology in the Sixth Form enables students to study something new and exciting and is relevant and highly applicable to an understanding of the world we live in. It’s a subject that suits any student who is determined to understand what motivates themselves and others, and to learn why it is that people think and act in a particular way.
At A Level, Psychology involves challenges such as learning to write structured essays, grasping ethical issues within the subject, analysing data from research, evaluating the usefulness of theories and even designing and conducting scientific investigations. It opens up many options in fields including clinical psychology, social welfare, marketing, education and any career that involves working with other people.
Course introduction:
Students study the AQA Psychology A Level. Please see the AQA Website for further details or refer to the Harrodian Sixth Form Prospectus.
The A Level course is divided into three components structured as set out below:
1) Introductory Topics in Psychology
- Social Influence
- Memory
- Attachment
- Psychopathology
2) Psychology in Context
- Approaches in Psychology
- Biopsychology
- Research Methods
3) Issues and Options in Psychology
- Issues and Debates in Psychology Relationships
- Schizophrenia
- Forensic
Course requirements
Students need to be very confident in using mathematical measurements to understand trends in data; able to understand biological mechanisms within the body; have a strong understanding of how to design and conduct a scientific experiment; and be able to write essays. Students are often surprised at the amount they have to learn and the level of difficulty of the course, but provided they are motivated and willing to work hard, good results can be achieved.
For more specific year-by-year information, please refer to our Curriculum Handbooks/Information Booklets.
Extracurricular
Trips for students include lectures on specific topics and talks by leading psychologists.
Staff
Head of Psychology: Susan Mapstone
Teacher of Psychology: Joseph Greenberg