Course information
Psychology
Royal High School GDST - Bath and North East Somerset
01225313877
Royal High School Bath GDST, Lansdown Road, BA1 5SZ
Course summary

Psychology is the scientific study of human behaviour and the mind. The aim of the Psychology course is to encourage students to develop a sense of wonder about how the behaviour of other people can be explained using psychological theories. Students will naturally become curious about themselves and the world they live in. Psychology students will gain a knowledge and understanding of scientific methods and the theoretical underpinnings of the research. Students will develop their critical thinking skills by learning to analyse, interpret and evaluate scientific information gained from research. Practical skills will be developed when students design and conduct their own research, find relevant sources to support their hypotheses, and present their findings in a report format. Students will become proficient at presenting their findings using descriptive and inferential statistics. Year 1 — Social influence (e.g. conformity and obedience). — Memory (e.g. models of memory, explanations for forgetting). — Attachment (e.g. explanations of attachment). — Biopsychology (e.g. the nervous system and the function of the endocrine system). — Psychopathology (e.g. explanations and treatments of phobias and depression). — Approaches in Psychology. — Research methods, scientific processes, and techniques for data handling and analysis. Year 2 — Biopsychology (e.g. biological rhythms, localisation of function of the brain). — Issues and debates in Psychology (e.g. gender and culture, free will and determinism, the ethical implications of research). — Inferential statistics. — Relationships (e.g. virtual relationships in social media, theories of romantic relationships). — Eating behaviour (e.g. biological and psychological explanations of anorexia nervosa and obesity). — Forensic Psychology (e.g. biological explanations of offender behaviour, offender profiling). The course requires curiosity, an interest in human behaviour and a desire to explore and understand the complexities of the mind. To succeed students should have strong Maths and English skills. You will need to possess critical thinking skills so to analyse, interpret and evaluate scientific research. From this analysis, you will be required to create logical written arguments. Research skills will be needed when students design and conduct their own research. Students will be expected to analyse and interpret the data gathered from this research, using descriptive and inferential statistics. Previous students have progressed to study a degree in Psychology, Applied psychology and Business Management, Psychological and behavioural studies and Criminology and Forensic studies. Studying Psychology will benefit you if you choose a profession in Teaching, Police, Law, Healthcare and Social Services.

Entry requirements

If you are not already a student of Royal High School Bath, and are considering joining the Sixth Form, the first step should be an informal visit to see our Sixth Form facilities. You will also meet the Head, Head of Sixth Form and other members of staff, as well as being able to talk to some of our current Sixth Form students. Entry is dependent on a minimum of six GCSEs at grades 9-6. Candidates are also expected to achieve grades 9-6 in the subjects they wish to study at A Level or at Higher Level in the International Baccalaureate Diploma. In addition, students are required to achieve at least a grade 4 in Maths and English Language GCSE. For some subjects, a grade 6 or above in a related discipline is recommended. For example, Psychology would require grade 6 or above in English, Mathematics and Science. In some subjects, we would recommend continuing to study them only if a grade 7 or higher is achieved at GCSE. More advice will be given about this following results. Students wishing to take Music A Level also need to have Associated Board Grade 4 or above in an instrument or singing.

How you'll be assessed

A Level students will examine Forensic psychology. When we explore the Offender profiling topic students will examine a recreated crime scene. They will become crime scene investigators and attempt to profile and identify the offender. They will listen to interviews with potential suspects and be asked to consider all the available evidence to determine the identity of the offender.

School Info

About Education Provider

RegionSouth West
Local AuthorityBath and North East Somerset
Ofsted Rating
Gender TypeGirls
ISI ReportView Report
Boarding Fee£34,344 - £40,374
Sixth Form FeeDay £16,917 - £17,658
AddressRoyal High School Bath GDST, Lansdown Road, BA1 5SZ