Psychology
Why we teach Psychology at Harris Academy Purley
Key Stage 4
Our aim within the psychology department is to develop interest in Psychology as a broad academic discipline. To help students gain insight on their own behaviour and the behaviour of others and, develop student understanding of and interest in how Psychology is applied in the real world. In addition to this we aim to deepen student understanding of the scientific process as applied in Psychology so that they think like Psychological researchers. Within the psychology department we encourage independence, curiosity, and resilience. And strive to develop written and verbal analysis and evaluation skills.
Key Stage 5
We teach and assess approximately 60% of the course (majority of Paper 1 and 2), allowing time for skills-focused revision in year 13 before the final exams. The modules selected for first teaching set an excellent foundation for the remaining topics. As part of the assessment process, we use achievement across the year to set Most Likely and Most Recent Assessment Grades. These will inform intervention and support careers and destinations planning. Teach and assess Paper 3 (Issues and Debates plus Optional topics) and encourage synoptic links across all three exam papers. Through learning psychology, students become more self-aware. As they read and study to use research papers, case studies, surveys, experiments, and observations, they develop their capacity to comprehend people’s behaviours and responses to real-life.
What exam board we follow?
