Psychology (A Level)
For the most up to date information about courses being offered in the next upcoming academic year (for study from the following September), please view our prospectus by clicking below.
CURRICULUM INTENT
The study of Social Sciences allows students to develop an understanding of the internal and external processes that shape who we are as individuals and as part of society. Through engaging, well-resourced curriculums rich in contemporary, real-life examples, students will come to critically re-examine the world around them, developing a broader and deeper understanding of human behaviour and how it can be researched.
The Social Sciences Learning Area runs three subjects at Hedingham Sixth Form:
Sociology is the study of human society, exploring its impact on group and individual behaviour, social relationships and interactions, and the cultures and identities associated with everyday life. Psychology is the scientific study of the mind, questioning how the brain dictates and influences our behaviour through conscious and unconscious processes such as communication, memory, thought and emotion. Criminology is an applied social science, focusing specifically on crime and criminal behaviour including the personal and social aspects of crime and victimisation, and a range of responses to crime and deviance.
It is our intent to:
- Ensure that all students have equal opportunity to develop the knowledge and skills to fulfil their academic potential and achieve positive academic outcomes in terms of examination results and future destinations. Through highly accessible, expertly resourced and well-sequenced curriculums that brings the Social Sciences to life, students will be enthused and eager to learn.
- Develop student’s abilities as independent learners through the implementation of metacognitive pedagogical strategies across the learning area. Students will be able to critically analyse a broad range of concepts, theories and perspectives and draw measured, meaningful conclusions in both extended written responses and in discussion and debate.
- Equip students with the knowledge, skills and motivation to make positive choices as socially compassionate and responsible citizens in their communities. It is our intention to create a learning environment where academic discourse is encouraged and nurtured; students should identify themselves as ‘social scientists’ and be empowered to apply their understanding to enrich and guide their own life experiences and their contributions to society.
Encouraging synopticity and a multi-disciplinary approach:
Sociology, Psychology and Criminology should be regarded as valuable academic subjects in their own right, while recognising the multi-disciplinary approach to tackling real-world themes, questions and ideas pertinent to young people that the collective efforts of our Learning Area provides. Our curriculum allows for student’s knowledge to grow sequentially and for them to enhance the quality of their responses by making meaningful synoptic links between units of study and key concepts.
The Social Sciences are united at the core by the fundamentality of research, it is how we come to understand the processes that shape human behaviour. It essential that the teaching and learning of Social Sciences should empower students to identify as ‘Social Researchers’ with the skills and knowledge to make their own specialist observations and judgements about social phenomena and to evaluate the research of other social scientists. We intend that the teaching of ‘Research methods’ is interwoven through-out the curriculum with as many opportunities as possible for students to undertake their own research.
COURSE SPECIFICATIONS
In the space underneath, you will find specific information related to this subject. As Key Stage 5 specifications change, it is possible that the course being offered to Year 12 is different to that being studied in Year 13.
With that in mind, please find attached below, links to the respective courses being offered to current Year 12 and Year 13 students.
Year 12 - A Level Psychology:
Year 13 - A Level Psychology:
CURRICULUM MAPS
Please find attached below, the Curriculum Maps for both Year 12 and Year 13: