Whatever career you pursue, a background in psychology will enhance your employability. Studying psychology can help you understand yourself and other people by learning about aspects of human behaviour that help you in daily life. You will benefit from an understanding of human behaviour, be it: social interaction, language and communication, human motivation and emotion, or the process of decision-making. Psychology provides an excellent training in analytical thinking and scientific research methods that are applicable to a broad range of careers.

Students studying three A Levels will be expected to have a minimum of two GCSEs at grade 6 and three GCSEs at grade 5/4, including English Language and Mathematics at grade 5/4 or above. Or eight GCSEs at a minimum of grade 5. This course may be taken alongside A Level courses and may be more suited to learners with a strong profile of prior attainment in vocational studies.

Topics you will study include:

Unit 1- Psychological approaches (Cognitive, Social, Learning and Biological approaches)

Unit 2- Research methods (Conduct a research study related to a Psychological topic of your choice)

Unit 3- Health Psychology (Stress and Addiction)

Unit 6- Introduction to Psychopathology (History of mental illness and research a mental disorder such as Schizophrenia)

Psychology is an academic subject requiring a high standard of written communication and an ability to work independently on practical research projects.

There are also biological and mathematical elements to the course.

Compulsory topics include: Approaches in Psychology, Conducting Psychological Research, and Health Psychology. 

Additional topics include: Psychopathology and Treatments. 

Unit 1: Year 1 – External examination of short and extended questions 

Unit 6: Year 1 – Internal assessments and projects. 

Unit 3: Year 2 – External examination of short and extended questions

Unit 2: Year 2 – Internal assessments and projects

Exam Board: Pearson RQF

Visits have included trips to a Mental Health Museum, university subject taster days, guest speakers, and conferences within the North-West. These trips are an exciting way to see psychology in action and how to apply the theoretical knowledge learnt in the classroom.  Depending on what areas students are passionate about, they could carry out work experience within schools, the NHS, research settings and mental health charities. 

Students can also volunteer their services on the student council and/or the student mental health awareness group. There is an expectation students will complete a one-week work placement in the Summer term.

The Psychology department is committed to facilitate your learning in an enthusiastic and supportive manner. We offer additional support and enrichment programmes as well as having many excellent e-learning resources to aid your progression through the two years of study.

For students who wish to progress in the field of psychology and or psychological research at university, The Sixth Form also offers the opportunity to take an additional qualification of Core Mathematics.

Psychology is regarded as a highly academic subject and is well respected by employers and universities alike. We have excellent links with prestigious universities and progression rates to higher education are high.

Career options include: clinical, counselling, educational, forensic, sport and exercise psychology, as well as various roles within social services and mental health.

Students must be equipped with files, dividers, highlighters, calculators, paper and pens to ensure they create full sets of notes for their revision. Some find it helpful to buy a textbook for additional reading and suggestions for suitable books are on the reading list provided at the start of term.