Intent
Psychology students at Barnwell School will be inquisitive and motivated to learn more about the key issues and debates within the study of human behaviour. They will develop a greater sense of ethical issues surrounding the study of human behaviour and in turn develop a greater sense of tolerance and understanding. They will explore how understanding psychology has real world applications and how it is crucial to our everyday life. They will learn to challenge and question the power of social influence, conformity and enhance their understanding of mental health related illnesses making them feel more confident, autonomous and equipped for their future lives.
GCSE Learning Journey
BTEC Learning Journey
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Curriculum Map
GCSE
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KS4
Course:
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Y10 Content
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Y10 Key Assessment
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Y11 Content
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Y11 Key Assessment
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Autumn 1
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Introduction to Psychology Approaches
Criminal Psychology
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Formative Task:
Exam questions on approaches – peer assessed
Summative Unit: Criminal Psychology Exam
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Social Influence
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Formative Task: Revision layering activities
Summative Assessment: Social Influence exam questions
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Autumn 2
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Experiments
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Formative Task: Conducting own experiments
Summative Task: Experimental Write Up
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Descriptive Statistics
Memory
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Formative Task:
Maths skills
Summative Assessment: Memory exam questions
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Spring 1
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Development
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Formative Task: Long answer exam question prepared and assessed together
Summative Task: Exam questions on Development
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Graphs
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Formative Tasks: Graph drawing activities
Summative Assessment: Research methods overview exam questions
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Spring 2
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Self Reports
Psychological Problems
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Formative Assessment: Case studies of Mental Health
Summative Assessment: Self reports written report
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Sleep and Dreaming
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Formative Assessment: Exam Skills
Summative Assessment: Sleep and Dreaming exam questions
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Summer 1
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Psychological Problems
Observations
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Formative Assessment: Observation practical work
Summative Assessment: Psychological problems exam questions
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Bias
Revision
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Formative Assessment: Peer Assessed past papers
Summative Assessment: Past exam papers under exam conditions
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Summer 2
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Correlations
Revision
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Formative Assessment: Correlations practical work
Summative Assessment: End of year Mock exam
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Psychology is the scientific study of the human mind and behaviour. The OCR course allows students to develop an understanding of their self and others and helps them to explain how psychology can be used to explain everyday social phenomena. Furthermore, students are able to investigate how psychological research is conducted and are given opportunities to collect and analyse their own data.
Psychology is a popular subject which often leads to further study at A level. Whilst the GCSE course is not essential for studying the subject at A level it does provide a really good foundation for students who wish to study the subject further. Psychology students go on to a wide variety of careers as not only does the subject provide knowledge for careers within the psychology field itself it also develops transferable skills. A few possible career options include working within the police force, counselling, working within the sport environment, education, personnel and working within the healthcare sector
The course is assessed in two examinations at the end of the second year of study. Both papers are 1 hour 30 minutes long with each being worth 50% of the total GCSE grade. Within each paper a selection of psychological topics and research methods will be covered.
Further details here, and from t.turner2@barnwell.herts.sch.uk
BTEC
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Term
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Year 12 content
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Key Assessments
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Year 13 content
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Key Assessments
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A1
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UNIT 1 Psychological Approaches
Cognitive and Social Approach
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Summative test on the two approaches
Formative Assessment coursework for Unit 2 Task 1
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UNIT 3 Stress, behavioural addiction and physiological addiction
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Summative test Unit 3
Unit 4 coursework formative assessment
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UNIT 2 Learning Aim A Principles of Research, Key Terms and the research process
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UNIT 4 Criminal psychology
Learning Aim A Approaches to explaining criminal behaviour
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A2
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UNIT 1
Psychological approaches
Learning and Biological Approach
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Summative test on the two approaches
Formative Assessment coursework for unit 2 Task 1
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UNIT 3 Promotion of positive behavioural change
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January exam on Unit 3
Unit 4 coursework – formative assessment
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UNIT 2 Learning Aim B: Planning research to investigate psychological questions
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UNIT 4 – Learning Aim B Punishment and behaviour modification
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SP1
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UNIT 1
Use of psychology to explain contemporary issues of aggression in society
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Mock Exam for Unit 1
Formative assessment coursework for unit 2 Task 2
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UNIT 3 Overview
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Unit 4 coursework formative assessment
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UNIT 2
Learning Aim C
Carry out pilot study to explore current issues in psychology
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UNIT 4 – Learning Aim C Creating offender profiles
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SP2
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UNIT 1 Use of psychology in business to explain and influence consumer behaviour
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Summative Test on Consumer behaviour
Formative assessment coursework unit 2 Task 2
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UNIT 4 Finishing coursework
Resit lessons
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Unit 4 coursework – formative assessment
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UNIT 2 Learning Aim D Review implications of research into psychological inquiry
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SU1
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UNIT 1 Application of psychology to explain gender.
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End of year exam – Unit 1
Summative test Lifestyle choices
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Review of course
Preparation for resits
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Second opportunity to take Unit 1 and 3 exams
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UNIT 3 Lifestyle choice and health related behaviours
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SU2
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UNIT 3 Stress, behavioural addiction and physiological addiction
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Summative test Unit 3
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BTEC Applied psychology, allows for students to gain a deeper understanding of psychology, with a focus on how psychology is used and applied within the world. The course consists of four units, two of which are externally assessed and two of which are coursework based. The first externally assessed unit focuses on psychological approaches and how they can be used to explain aggression within society, consumer behaviour and gender formation. This will be assessed in an exam at the end of year 12. The first coursework-based unit focuses on research methods and allows for the opportunity for students to conduct, analyse and evaluate their own psychological research. Within year 13 students sit a second exam in January which focuses on the unit of Health psychology. This includes topics such as stress, addiction and how to make health related behavioural changes. Finally, the second coursework unit focuses on criminal psychology in which students get to learn about psychological theories on what causes people to become criminals, the use of punishment and offender profiling.
This qualification is an Extended Certificate which means that it is equivalent in terms of UCAS points to an A level course.
