Curriculum Guide | Key Stage 5
Curriculum Guide | Key Stage 5
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SUBJECT: Psychology
YEAR: 13 – A2 Only September 2015 / 2016
HEAD OF DOMAIN: Mr M McCarthy
HEAD OF DEPARTMENT: Mr A Harvey-Craig
COURSE CONTENT: Unit 1: Cognitive Psychology which examines how our mind works and focuses on how memories are encoded and retrieved and Social Psychology which investigates how our behaviour changes because of the way we relate to people around us, specifically in relation to obedience and prejudice. Unit 2: Psychodynamic Approach involves studying Freud’s view of how early childhood experiences and relationships with our parents create our personality and our gender identity. Biological Approach involves learning why some psychologists see our genes and our brain chemistry as the main source of differences in thinking style and behaviour between males and females. Learning Approach looks at the influence of classical conditioning, operant conditioning and social learning (learning from role models). Unit 3: Criminal Psychology explaining and treating criminal behaviour. Child Psychology examining the effects of deprivation, studying childhood disorders such as Autism. Unit 4: Clinical Psychology explaining and treating mental disorder. Synoptic Unit addressing broader issues such as the nature / nurture debate by drawing on material from the whole course. What will homework look like? Homework will involve a mixture of essays, project work, research and exam preparation. What enrichment opportunities are available? Visiting speakers predominantly from the areas of mental health and crime. ASSESSMENT End of Year 13: Unit 3 (40%) Unit 4 (60%) (To make up A2 assessment) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION How can I support my child in this subject? Psychology is everywhere, especially in the news and media. One of the most powerful ways to support your child is to ask them about the topics being covered, ask how they might relate to current events and / or real-life experiences. All students are supplied with a course textbook but there are others which are written for the course which you might consider buying for your child (although this is not an expectation). These are:
Quality, Partnership, Success
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Curriculum Guide | Key Stage 5 Jarvis et al (2008) Angles on Psychology, Folens. ISBN: 978-1850082989 Christine Brain (2008) Edexcel AS Psychology, Philip Allen. ISBN: 978-0340966839
How can I support my child with exams? All past papers and mark schemes are on the school’s VLE – helping your child to download and use these for exam practice is a great way to help them with exams. There are also a series of revision booklets which you could consider buying, such as:
Edexcel Psychology: Unit 1: Social and Cognitive Psychology (Student Unit Guides) 978-0340948804
Quality, Partnership, Success
Page 2
12
SUBJECT: Psychology
YEAR: 13 – A2 Only September 2015 / 2016
HEAD OF DOMAIN: Mr M McCarthy
HEAD OF DEPARTMENT: Mr A Harvey-Craig
COURSE CONTENT: Unit 1: Cognitive Psychology which examines how our mind works and focuses on how memories are encoded and retrieved and Social Psychology which investigates how our behaviour changes because of the way we relate to people around us, specifically in relation to obedience and prejudice. Unit 2: Psychodynamic Approach involves studying Freud’s view of how early childhood experiences and relationships with our parents create our personality and our gender identity. Biological Approach involves learning why some psychologists see our genes and our brain chemistry as the main source of differences in thinking style and behaviour between males and females. Learning Approach looks at the influence of classical conditioning, operant conditioning and social learning (learning from role models). Unit 3: Criminal Psychology explaining and treating criminal behaviour. Child Psychology examining the effects of deprivation, studying childhood disorders such as Autism. Unit 4: Clinical Psychology explaining and treating mental disorder. Synoptic Unit addressing broader issues such as the nature / nurture debate by drawing on material from the whole course. What will homework look like? Homework will involve a mixture of essays, project work, research and exam preparation. What enrichment opportunities are available? Visiting speakers predominantly from the areas of mental health and crime. ASSESSMENT End of Year 13: Unit 3 (40%) Unit 4 (60%) (To make up A2 assessment) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION How can I support my child in this subject? Psychology is everywhere, especially in the news and media. One of the most powerful ways to support your child is to ask them about the topics being covered, ask how they might relate to current events and / or real-life experiences. All students are supplied with a course textbook but there are others which are written for the course which you might consider buying for your child (although this is not an expectation). These are:
Quality, Partnership, Success
Page 1
12
Curriculum Guide | Key Stage 5 Jarvis et al (2008) Angles on Psychology, Folens. ISBN: 978-1850082989 Christine Brain (2008) Edexcel AS Psychology, Philip Allen. ISBN: 978-0340966839
How can I support my child with exams? All past papers and mark schemes are on the school’s VLE – helping your child to download and use these for exam practice is a great way to help them with exams. There are also a series of revision booklets which you could consider buying, such as:
Edexcel Psychology: Unit 1: Social and Cognitive Psychology (Student Unit Guides) 978-0340948804
Quality, Partnership, Success
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