Psychology KS5

1. Psychology A level Curriculum Map
Intent: Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and how it dictates and influences our behaviour, from communication and memory to thought and
emotion. It's about understanding what makes people tick and how this understanding can help us address many of the problems and issues in society
today. People seek the help and support of psychologists for all sorts of problems, and psychologists employ their knowledge and expertise to help in many
areas of society. The A level Psychology curriculum will give students a strong foundation to pursue a career in the field. By the end of the course students
will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of psychological concepts, theories, research studies, research methods and ethical issues within
Psychology. They will be able apply psychological knowledge and understanding in a range of contexts and be able to analyse, interpret and evaluate
psychological concepts, theories, research studies and research methods. Knowledge and understanding of research methods, practical research skills and
mathematical skills is a vital part of the Psychology curriculum and students will be given opportunity to design and carry out their own research as well as
practice analysis and interpreting data.
Implementation:
Term Autumn 1 & 2 Spring 3 Spring 4 Summer 5 & 6
Year
12
We use the first two half
terms to introduce
students to research
methods and the
approaches in
psychology. These are
taught first to allow
students to learn the
skills they will need to
answer exam questions.
This ensures that when
we move onto topics,
each area is
complimented by the
relevant methodological
understanding of how
that research was
conducted and how it
Xmas
Holiday
The next half term
continues developing
the foundations of
psychology by applying
previous learning to the
topics of social
influence and memory.
Students look closely at
theories and research
studies in social
psychology that explain
the processes of
conformity and
obedience
on an individual and
societal level.
Students also
investigate
In the fourth term,
students continue
studying Y12 topics by
looking at attachment and
the psychopathology.
Students study
developmental
psychological research
investigating the processes
involved in the formation
of attachment and the
possible consequences of
its abnormal development.
They also study
psychopathology,
examining the
definitions of abnormality
and then investigating
Easter
holiday
The next two half terms
involve finishing off any
Y12 topics not
completed, and preparing
students for their end of
year exams, before
moving on to Y13 work.
We revisit more
advanced year 2 content
in research methods and
approaches.
Students investigate
further methods of
conducting research in
Psychology are explored
including case studies and
new methods of analysis
data such as content
Summer
holiday

2. can be evaluated. Maths
skills will also be
embedded in activities
throughout the
curriculum.
Students examine
the key components of
the experimental
method, issues of ethics
and
validity in research,
correlational design and
meta‐analysis. Students
also study non –
experimental methods
of
research and methods of
sampling and data
analysis including
through practical
lessons.
Students will be
assessed regularly with
application of their
learning to exam
questions both formally,
within lessons and
informally, through
homework. Feedback
will be provided, and
students will have
opportunity to
psychological research
into Memory. First
looking at models and
types
of memory and then
focusing on
explanations for
forgetting and
accuracy of eye witness
testimony.
Students will be
assessed regularly with
application of their
learning to exam
questions both formally,
within lessons and
informally, through
homework. Feedback
will be provided, and
students will have
opportunity to
respond to this
feedback and improve
their work. 1:1 and
small group
Interventions will be
targeted using data
from assessments.
Data from these
assessments will also be
used to plan classroom
intervention.
psychological research
into the causes and
treatments for depression,
phobias and Obsessive‐
Compulsive Disorder. This
topic also requires the
application of all the
content learnt in
approaches.
Students will be assessed
regularly with application
of their learning to exam
questions both formally,
within lessons and
informally, through
homework. Feedback will
be provided, and students
will have opportunity to
respond to this feedback
and improve their work.
1:1 and small group
Interventions will be
targeted using data from
assessments.
Data from these
assessments will also be
used to plan classroom
intervention.
Topics covered
Psychopathology
Attachment
and thematic analysis.
Validity and reliability are
revisited and covered in
greater detail and
opportunities are
provided to relate this to
a variety of research
scenarios. We then look
at the ‘how to plan a
study’ exam questions.
Students are also
provided with an
opportunity to continue
developing the
foundations of
Psychology through the
critical teaching of the
final two (the
psychodynamic approach
and the humanistic
approach) of the six main
approaches in Psychology
and their comparisons.
Students will complete
end of topics
assessments, for which
they will receive teacher
feedback to prepare
them for future exams.
They then sit the final
end of year PPE and full

3. respond to this feedback
and improve their work.
Data from these
assessments will also be
used to plan classroom
intervention.
Topics covered:
Approaches
Research Methods
Topics covered
Memory
Social Influence
feedback will be
provided.
End of year exam
(Paper 1) June
Year
13
At the start of year 13
students, begin by
reviewing the summer
homework and Y13
Approaches. This
enables them to prepare
for the PPE exam in
November (paper 2)
Students will then
complete the final
content in research
methods with a focus on
inferential statistics.
Maths will continue
to be embedded
throughout the course.
Students then study
issues and debates in
Psychology (paper 3) to
enhance their skills of
Xmas
holiday
At the start of this term,
students complete
Biopsychology, the final
topic in paper 2.
This topic contains the
most demanding content
in terms of biological
sciences. The focus is on
the nervous and
endocrine system, the
brain and biological
rhythms.
Students then continue
learning about topics in
paper 3. Students will
firstly look at the topic of
Schizophrenia. This topic
covers diagnosis and
classification of the
disorder, explanations
and treatments. This
In the fourth term
students will finish
learning the content of
the course by looking at
the final options topics of
Forensic Psychology and
gender.
Students will be
studying forensic
psychology and look at
offender profiling,
explanations for
offending behaviour and
methods for dealing
with offenders.
They will also be studying
Gender and looking at the
explanations for the
development of gender,
including studies to
Easter
holiday
Exams
In the final term all
teaching of new content
has been completed.
Students will use the
remaining time to revise
all prior topics. Lessons
will be spent revising and
reassessing students on
prior content from all
three papers. This will
include weekly
assessment of exam
papers.
Any content identified as
a weakness in
assessments, will be
retaught alongside areas
students lack confidence
in.
Students will be given
practice exam questions

4. evaluation in extended
writing. Students will
have the opportunity to
apply the new skills they
have developed writing
advanced evaluation.
During year 13, students
have an extra 60 mins a
week of lessons.
This term we will
provide students with
after school revision
sessions which will focus
on revision of paper 1
and 2 material to make
sure they are confident
on these topics before
their first set of PPE’s in
November.
Students will complete
end of topic
assessments, for which
they will receive teacher
feedback, to prepare
them for future exams.
They then sit the first lot
of PPE’s and full
feedback will be
provided.
topic draws upon prior
knowledge in approaches
and so memory platforms
will be used to revisit
these concepts.
This term we will
continue to provide
students with after
school revision sessions
which will focus on
revision of paper 2
material to make sure
they are confident on
these topics before their
second set of PPE’s in
March.
Students will complete
end of topic assessments,
for which they will
receive teacher feedback,
to prepare them for
future exams.
They then sit the second
lot of PPE’s and full
feedback will be
provided.
Topics covered:
Biopsychology
support the different
theories and explanations
for gender dysphoria.
These topics draw heavily
on prior knowledge of
approaches in Psychology
and involve their
application to crime and
gender. Memory
platforms will focus on
this prior knowledge for
recall.
This term we will
continue to provide
students with after school
revision sessions which
will focus on revision of
all material to prepare
them for their A level
exams.
In addition to any
PPE’s, students are
assessed formally every
two weeks on new
content taught.
Topics covered:
Forensic psychology
Gender
and regular tests that
will enable them to see
what topics they should
focus their revision on.
Students will use their
PPE’s, revision
materials, PLCs and
marked work to revise
key concepts, phrases
and knowledge and try
to apply it to different
exam questions in
lesson and outside of
lesson.
Topics covered:
All topics from three
papers

5. Topics covered
Issues and debates
Research methods
PPE1 November
(Paper 2 with issues and
debates instead of
biopsychology)
Schizophrenia Revision of all prior
content.
Impact:
• To ensure students achieve they fullest potential in Psychology, students will be formatively assessed once a fortnight through written assessment that
includes short questions, extended essays and research methods questions that will embed key elements of the mark schemes.
• Data from assessments will then be used to target students and aim to enhance their development areas though re‐teaching lessons and intervention.
• Students data from assessments and PPE exams will be analysed to highlight any areas for development e.g. short mark questions, extended writing or
research methods/maths.
• Students will be set homework regularly which requires them to revisit content from the lessons and practise assessment style questions. This ensures
learning is extended further. All homework will be recorded on Show My Homework.
• Students will be directed to do further reading around the subject by making use of online resources and the school library. Extracurricular trips will also
be organised to Psychological institutions as appropriate.