Psychology straddles the disciplines of Science and Humanities and enables students to demonstrate a breadth of skills available in no other subject.
Wherever they work, whatever they do in their life, learning about Psychology gives students the most invaluable insight into the motivations of themselves and others. The study of Psychology teaches skills that they will transfer into all walks of life – skills such as gathering and analysing data, evaluating research evidence, writing reports and designing and implementing independent research. In the Psychology Department we guarantee to challenge students’ preconceptions, deepen their understanding of human behaviour and open their eyes to the fundamental importance of careful, scientific study of the origins of both typical and atypical behaviour.
“I shall miss your lessons immensely, (yes even on Monday afternoon!). You always seem to make every topic jump into life” Sixth Form Student
The Psychology Department supports its A Level students in a variety of ways. Department trips include visits to conferences in London, Royal Bethlem Hospital & Museum of the Mind, and Colchester Zoo. In addition there are lectures given by visiting specialists and the annual Brain Day. Psychology students enter a number of essay competitions including the Corpus Christi Oxford Science Essay Competition and the Cambridge Psychology Essay Competition.
Sixth Form and A Level
Psychology A Level is a linear course which consists of three papers. Paper 1 focuses on Social, Cognitive and Biological Psychology and learning theories.
It looks at topics such as obedience and prejudice, theories about how memory works and why we forget, aggression, brain functioning and criminal behaviour, conditioning, social learning and phobias. Paper 2 looks at the way in which Psychology can be applied in real world settings and situations which relate to vocational contexts in which a Psychology graduate may operate.
It covers aspects of Clinical Psychology including schizophrenia and other mental illnesses, their causes and treatments, as well as Criminal Psychology which considers different explanations for why people turn to crime, how to treat offenders, and the psychology of the courtroom.
Paper 3 reviews methodology, research studies and wider issues and debates in Psychology. Students will develop transferable skills to support study in a wide range of subjects at university and the transition to employment. This includes law, biomedical science, psychology and social sciences, business and economics, sport and exercise science, biology and statistics.
Exam results
The average of the results in Psychology A Level over the most recent three year period (2023, 2022, 2021) is:
| A* | 18% |
| A* – A | 43% |
| A* – B | 75% |
Follow the Ipswich School’s Psychology Department on Twitter.
