Psychology A Level will be taught from September 2025.
The course introduces pupils to the major branches of psychology: social, cognitive, developmental and individual differences. Pupils will study at least one topic from each branch, as well as exploring the different approaches that Psychologists have taken to understanding human behaviour over time, and the key issues and debates in the field. Pupils will learn the fundamentals of the subject and develop skills valued by higher education and employers, including critical analysis, independent thinking and research.
Course Content
There are 8 compulsory topics and 3 optional topics (which each contain 3 subject areas). As this is a new A Level for 2025, optional topics will be decided once a Head of Department is recruited.
Assessment:
Paper 1
• Social influence
• Memory
• Attachment
• Psychopathology
Paper 2
• Approaches to psychology
• Biopsychology
• Research methods (scientific process/ data handling/ inferential testing)
Paper 3: Option paper
• Issues and debates in psychology (compulsory)
• Then option group from the following:
OPTION 1: Gender, Relationships, Cognition & Development
OPTION 2: Schizophrenia, Eating Behaviour, Stress
OPTION 3: Aggression, Forensic Psychology, Addiction