Psychology GCSE

Head of Department: Mrs S Ellegaard

Psychology is a broad discipline that studies the mind and behaviour. It investigates the interaction between biological and environmental factors that shape the way we think and act. Pupils will study topics such as memory, criminal behaviour, sleep and dreaming, and social influence.

 If you would like to view related Key Stage 5 courses, please click the links below:

A Level - Psychology

 

This is an after-school option only

What is Psychology?

Psychology is considered to be a science because psychologists try to understand people through careful controlled observation. All sciences rely on rigorous scientific methods and, in this way, psychology is no different to biology, physics or chemistry.

However, instead of studying molecules or plants, psychologists look at people, their behaviour towards themselves and each other, and how their mind works. It asks the following key questions:

• Why do I thinklike this?
• Why do I feellike this?
• Why do I behavelike this?

What skills will I develop?

Pupils will develop many valuable skills, including critical and analytical thinking, evaluating research and theories, and collecting and analysing data.

What syllabus will I follow?

OCR GCSE Psychology J203

What will the course look like?

The syllabus consists of two units and covers a wide range of different psychological areas:

Unit 1

• Development
• Criminal psychology
• Psychological problems
• Research methods

Unit 2

• Social influence
• Sleep and dreaming
• Memory
• Research methods

Within the first three topics of each unit, we will look at key concepts, two core studies, theories and applications.

Research methods considers how psychologists collect and analyse their data. Pupils will also have the opportunity to carry out their own small-scale research.

What homework will I get?

You will be set one piece of homework each week. This may involve tasks such as conducting your own study, answering past paper questions or creating revision resources. 

How will I be assessed?

Each unit makes up 50% of the GCSE and will be assessed through a 90 minute written exam at the end of year 11.

The exam contains a mixture of short and longer answer questions, including one 13 mark question per unit.

What jobs or further courses of study might this lead to?

Many pupils who take GCSE psychology go on to study it for A Level. Since it helps to develop your scientific research skills, it can also be useful for science or maths courses. The analytical and evaluative skills acquired can be beneficial in a range of other subjects.

Beyond education, psychology is relevant to many different careers, such as medicine, policing, social work, teaching and law.

Are there any entry requirements for this course?

This course will run as a two hour after-school session once a week. It is open to those pupils who have the capacity to take on an additional GCSE subject. For after-school classes starting in September 2025, there is a charge of £360 per year to cover the cost of teaching and resources.

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