Psychology
OVERVIEW
Nationally, one of the most popular subjects at A-level and degree level, psychology has been a popular choice at King’s since it was introduced in 2020. The varied topics appeal to pupils with both a scientific and more humanity-focused background.
OUR SYLLABUS
The AQA specification provides a brilliant range of topics, covering areas such as Social psychology, Psychopathology (mental illness), and the interaction between human biology and behaviour in Biological psychology in the first year, as well as exploring areas such as Memory and childhood Attachment.
The second-year options at Kings include the study of criminal behaviour and theories of offending in Forensic psychology, an in-depth look at Schizophrenia and its treatment as well as studying the development of think and reasoning in Cognition and development.
- Year 1 — Social Psychology, Memory, Attachment, Psychopathology (mental illness), Psychological Approaches, Research Methods.
- Year 2 — Biological Psychology, Research Methods, Psychodynamic Approach, Humanistic Approach, Forensic Psychology, Schizophrenia.
Students also gain strong evaluative and critical thinking skill from the various topics in Research methods.
The AQA course provides an excellent primer for psychology at degree level as well as working with a range of other Higher Education courses like Law, Sociology and Criminology.
Independent study is managed through Uplearn, to boost student confidence and maximise consolidation and grade outcomes.
WHY STUDY PSYCHOLOGY?
Psychology is an accessible science that can be seen in operation day to day. If you have an interest in why humans think and behave the way we do, and the role that our biology plays in our behaviour, this is a subject for you.
Psychology affords insights into a range of issues and topics from mental illness and its treatment to the impact of early parent-child interactions in later life. It is very much an interdisciplinary science and is at the forefront of neuroscience. Psychology offers a wide range of careers that are highly person-focused, from clinical psychology to counselling, working with children and even sports psychology.
Through the excellent links forged by Dr Noyce, we are developing trips to the London School of Economic Bio-behavioural lab, and the Bethlem Museum of the Mind. In addition, the department regularly organises for the pupils to enjoy university-level lectures on a range of topics.
Academic enrichment
Visiting speakers have included:-
- Dr Jamie Smith-Spark – Cognitive Psychology ‘Mental Time Travel’
- Professor Coral Dando – Forensic Psychology
- Dr Simon Noyce – Autism and the biology of repetitive behaviour
- Kathrine Ambrose – Psychology in Market Research.
- Karl Williams – Counselling in the prison Service
- Dr Noreen Shaik – Ethics & Science.
- Professor David Messer – ex AQA examiner
- Dr Chris Sterling – Cognitive Neuropsychology
- Dr Liz Newton – Problem solving & cognition
- Psychology provides students with a huge range of transferable skills including:
- Communication (both written & verbal)
- Analytical skills — ability to process multiple levels of explanation from social and behavioural through to biological.
- Critical evaluation — ability to compare various theoretical perspective with deal with conflicting evidence in a scientific way
- Numerical skills — Statistics and research methods are at the core of the subject, student are able to appraise data as well and being able to employ and interpret statistical analysis.
- Independent study skills to research and formulate their own view and options based on the evidence.
- Develop an interdisciplinary and eclectic view of how human behaviour and thinking is understood.
Pupils studying psychology at A-level and degree level progress on to a wide range of careers, including business and human resources, social work, education, research, healthcare, forensic psychology, criminology, marketing, and mental health services.
