BAA Psychology Curriculum Intent Statement
As a Church of England Academy, we want all students in our Bluecoat Aspley family to come to understand and value the centrality of faith in our world. It is our hope that through the study of Psychology, all students can better understand the behaviours of other members of society, both nationally and internationally, as well as reflecting on their own behaviours and choices. Our curriculum is knowledge rich, as it is important that we learn about different psychological theories and how they explain human behaviour. Psychology lessons will be discussion based- they should be provided with regular opportunities to consider the strengths and weaknesses of theories and research that they are presented with. We aim to develop the evaluative skills of our students- they should view all theories with a critical eye and ask questions about the reliability and validity of the research they are presented with. We also believe that it’s important for students to understand that psychologists often view the behaviour of society with an ethnocentric and androcentric bias, which also impacts the research and theories that are created- not necessarily reflecting the diverse world that we live in today.
Through gaining this knowledge, we are able to promote respect and understanding for all members of society whilst also allowing students to understand how their own beliefs may shape their worldviews, and their ideas of what behaviours are considered ‘normal’. As well as this, our intent for all students is that they are able to develop their skills of evaluation through encouraging them to formulate arguments in an academic and well developed way. These discussions are key for our multi-cultural, ethnically diverse society to function in a way that leads to harmony, peace and mutual respect.
Expand each Key Stage to access the Curriculum Map and see an overview of what is covered in this subject:
At KS5 in psychology pupils have 5 hours a week. We follow the AQA Specification .
Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and how it dictates and influences our behaviour, from communication and memory to thought and emotion. It’s about understanding what makes people tick and how this understanding can help us address many of the problems and issues in society today. People seek the help and support of psychologists for all sorts of problems, and psychologists employ their knowledge and expertise to help in many areas of society. The A level Psychology curriculum will give students a strong foundation to pursue a career in the field. By the end of the course students will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of psychological concepts, theories, research studies, research methods and ethical issues within Psychology. They will be able apply psychological knowledge and understanding in a range of contexts and be able to analyse, interpret and evaluate psychological concepts, theories, research studies and research methods. Knowledge and understanding of research methods, practical research skills and mathematical skills is a vital part of the Psychology curriculum.
