Psychology 

The purpose of psychology is to give us a completely different idea of the things we know best.

Paul Valery  

Psychology is a broad field that encompasses the study of human thought, behaviour, development, personality, emotion, motivation, and more. Gaining a richer and deeper understanding of psychology can help people achieve insights into their own actions as well as a better understanding of others.

Head of Faculty for Computing, Media and Social Sciences 

Oliver Rosen |  orosen@aclandburghley.camden.sch.uk 

Head of Department

Sumaya Rose |  srose@aclandburghley.camden.sch.uk  

Teachers

Dylan Owen | dowen@aclandburghley.camden.sch.uk

Niamh Lawrence | nlawrence@aclandburghley.camden.sch.uk 

Curriculum

KS4

Students can first study Psychology as a GCSE in Y10 and Y11. Detailed below are the topics covered.

Curriculum Intent and Map

• Psychology Curriculum Intent
• Psychology GCSE Map

Y10

Autumn term: Memory and Research Methods

Research methods

• Formulation of testable hypotheses
• Types of variable
• Sampling methods
• Designing research
• Correlation
• Research procedures
• Planning and conducting research
• Ethical considerations
• Quantitative and qualitative data
• Primary and secondary data
• Computation
• Descriptive statistics
• Interpretation and display of quantitative data
• Normal distributions

Memory

• Processes of memory: encoding (input) storage and retrieval (output)
• Structures of memory
• Memory as an active process

Spring term: Perception and Development 

Perception

• Sensation and perception
• Visual cues and constancies
• Gibson's direct theory of perception – the influence of nature
• Visual illusions
• Gregory's constructivist theory of perception – the influence of nurture
• Factors affecting perception

Development

• Early brain development
• Piaget’s stage theory and the development of intelligence
• The role of Piaget’s theory in education
• The effects of learning on development

Summer term: Social Influence and revision

Social influence

• Conformity
• Obedience
• Prosocial behaviour
• Crowd and collective behaviour

Y11

Autumn term: Brain and neuropsychology and Language thought and development

Brain and neuropsychology

• Structure and function of the nervous system
• Neuron structure and function
• Structure and function of the brain
• An introduction to neuropsychology

Psychological problems

• An introduction to mental health
• How the incidence of significant mental health problems changes over time
• Effects of significant mental health problems on individuals and society
• Characteristics of clinical depression
• Theories of depression
• Interventions or therapies for depression
• Characteristics of addiction
• Theories of addiction
• Interventions or therapies for addiction

Spring term: Language thought and development and Psychological Problems

Language, thought and development

• The possible relationship between language and thought
• The effect of language and thought on our view of the world
• Differences between human and animal communication
• Non-verbal communication
• Explanations of non-verbal behaviour

Summer term: Revision

Medium Term Plans

• GCSE Medium Term Plan Brain and biopsychology
• GCSE Medium Term Plan Development
• GCSE Medium Term Plan Language thought and communication
• GCSE Medium Term Plan Memory TOs
• GCSE Medium Term Plan Perception TOs
• GCSE Medium term plan Psychological Problems
• GCSE Medium Term Plan RM flying start
• GCSE Medium Term Plan Social Influence
• Y10 Psychology Perception and research methods Autumn Term 2 Medium Term Plan
• Y10 Psychology Research Methods Spring HT1 Medium Term Plan
• Y11 Psychology Brain and neuropsychology Autumn Term 2 Medium Term Plan
• Y11 Psychology Psychological Problems Spring HT1 Medium Term Plan

GCSE Subject Specification 

Please click through to the links to view more information on the AQA website.

Psychology - AQA Exam Board

Y11 Revision materials

Paper 1 Revision Booklet

Enrichment opportunities

• Every Thursday 3.20-4.30pm in YG4: Y11/Y12/Y13 revision mentoring 
• Monday lunchtime in YG4: Y10 revision
• Monday period 4 in YG1: Y13 extra revision class

Suggested reading

We have a subscription to an online text book which covers the whole course: www.illuminate.digital/aqapsychgcse

The login details will be provided by your Psychology teacher. If you'd like to purchase a hard copy, the details are below.

AQA GCSE Psychology Paperback – 6 April 2017
by Mike Stanley (Author), Karen Boswell (Author), Sarah Harris (Author), Nicky Hayes (Author), Fran Knight (Author), Tracy Mendis (Author)

Exam Papers

AQA | Resources | Past Papers & AQA Mark Schemes

Useful websites

• www.aqa.org.uk 
• GCSE Psychology for AQA specification - YouTube

Things to see and do

• wellcomecollection.org/
• www.freud.org.uk/whats-on/

KS5

Psychology A-Level Map

As part of the LaSWAP consortium, Acland Burghley offers a Psychology A Level.

Useful revision resources: Learndojo