PSYCHOLOGY
Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behaviour. Psychology is a popular subject which is attractive to students because it develops a range of valuable skills, including critical analysis, independent thinking and research. These skills are particularly relevant to young people and are transferable to further study and virtually every workplace. The AQA Psychology qualification offers students an engaging and stimulating introduction to the subject, combined with the academic integrity and skills that Higher Education and employers value.
During your Psychology studies you will:
In Year 12 Psychology lessons, students learn about the differing approaches to explaining behaviour and the various research methods used by psychologists. Psychological research into the topics of Memory, Social Influence, Attachment, Clinical Psychology and Mental Health will be explored, all with diverse applications to the ‘real world’.
In ‘Memory’ students consider how we remember and why we forget, using studies of individuals with brain damage to illustrate the brain areas involved. In ‘Social Influence’ we explore the reasons why people obey and conform, and consider the factors involved in social change. In ‘Attachment’ students learn about different attachment types and attempt to explain why attachments develop, with data gained from animal studies. In ‘Clinical Psychology and Mental Health’ we learn about the diagnosis, explanations and treatments for Depression, Phobias and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.
In Year 13 Psychology lessons, students deepen their understanding in applied topics such as Biopsychology, Forensic psychology, Gender and Schizophrenia. Finally, they will learn about the issues and debates within Psychology, such as gender bias, cultural bias and the nature-nurture debate in relation to a range of topics.
Diverse teaching methods ensure that all learning styles are catered for. Our aim is for each student to develop both subject knowledge and confidence within the world of Psychology.
Universities consider Psychology a science subject and it is one of the most popular undergraduate courses – leading to careers in Criminology, Education, HM Prison Service, or with further study, Clinical and/or Forensic Psychology. The Criminal Justice System encourages employees at all levels to have some understanding of Psychology.
Studying Psychology enables our students to develop critical thinking and debating skills and provides them with a springboard to a diverse range of employment opportunities. GCSE grade 5 or above in English, Science and Maths required. An enquiring and curious mind is essential.
Curriculum Design
The purpose of our Psychology curriculum is to inspire students in the understanding of the discipline. We aim to secure strong academic outcomes alongside a discovery of new and thought-provoking areas of study. Our students enjoy challenge, show curiosity and resilience when faced with questions. Our aim is to produce Psychologists of the future who are going to influence the community around them in their later lives. They must be curious and know how their work is applicable to the wider world. Our curriculum encourages and facilitates further studies or potential careers in the subject, whilst empowering students to have a greater appreciation and awareness of Psychologically related issues in the world around them.
The Psychology curriculum at Wood Green School has been carefully designed so that students’ knowledge – both substantive and disciplinary – becomes more broad and more sophisticated as they progress through the course. By exploring a wide range of topics, students can find areas of interest which will raise their confidence and encourage them to embrace a growth mindset. The curriculum involves students learning about key approaches across history and considering the applications each has had. Our curriculum promotes resilience, independence, and organisation.
Our learners become scientifically literate and can articulate their knowledge and thinking in many ways. We are keen to develop outstanding Psychologists who can plan, complete, and evaluate practicals from beginning to end. They become skilled in a wide range of research methods and will be able to select the correct method for the relevant research questions. They will develop the necessary mathematical skills to analyse findings collected using a broad range of research methods.
Alongside learning a variety of new key terms and concepts, students will have to apply this knowledge and evaluate studies and theories. A good social scientist has a clear understanding of the core concepts and can use this knowledge to apply it to a wide range of situations; practically and written. We are committed to ensuring all students have high aspirations and provide support and provision to ensure all can succeed. We have used the strong subject expertise within the department to ensure inclusivity - that all students are able to access and understand even the most complex of concepts. For example, as Psychology is a new subject for most students in Year 12, we want them to have a good understanding of the basics of the scientific discipline, so we start with the main approaches in Psychology. We revisit and build on knowledge as students’ progress throughout the A Level course. Our curriculum also ensures that students’ disciplinary knowledge develops in an equally advanced way. For example, students will begin evaluating research through consideration of validity and reliability and progress to consideration of features of science, ethical issues, social implications and/or bias, practical applications, and usefulness of research. They will develop their ability to think like social scientists, thinking critically, analysing the evidence, and asking inquisitive questions.
We use the principles of cognitive science in the planning of our curriculum, to ensure that students develop bodies of knowledge through revisiting key concepts in different contexts. Each element of the curriculum has been carefully sequenced to aid the acquisition and remembering of this content and through this, students will be enabled in their learning - to think metacognitively. Finally, although outcomes are important, we know that teaching to the test is counterproductive in developing knowledge and understanding. Our curriculum is therefore enriched by a wealth of cultural capital – the glue which helps the core content to stick.
Year 12
Term 1
Approaches in Psychology
Attachment
Social Influence
Term 2
Clinical Psychology and Mental Health
Memory
Term 3
Research Methods
Year 13
Term 1
Biopsychology
Schizophrenia
Term 2
Gender
Forensic Psychology
Term 3
Issues and Debates
Approaches in Psychology
Revision
Formal Examinations
There is no coursework element for Psychology A-level. All assessment is through examination at the end of Year 13.
Paper 1 – Introductory Topics in Psychology
Paper 2 – Psychology in Context
Paper 3 – Issues and Options in Psychology
A level Psychology specification
Updated November 2025
