Psychology A Level

Exam Board: AQA(A) Chelt / Edexcel RFD Fast Track: Cheltenham subject to meeting strict criteria Daytime: Cheltenham and RFD Evening: Cheltenham Exams: AQA(A) Cheltenham AS Unit 1 Cognitive Psychology, Developmental Psychology & 1½ hours 25% Research Methods Unit 2 Biological Psychology, Social Psychology & 1½ hours 25% Individual Differences A2 Unit 3 Topics in Psychology: Relationships, Aggression & Gender 1½ hours 25% Unit 4 Psychopathology (Schizophrenia), Psychology in Action 2 hours 25% (Anomalistic Psychology) & Research Methods Edexcel Royal Forest of Dean AS Unit 1 Social and Cognitive Psychology 1 hr 20 min 25% Unit 2 Individual differences: Biological, Behavioural & 1 hr 40 min 25% Psychodynamic Psychology Unit 3 Applications of Psychology: Criminal and Child Psychology 1½ hours 25% Unit 4 How Psychology works: Clinical Psychology 2 hours 25% Where will this qualification take me? Psychology opens doors to many varied and exciting careers including: criminal and forensic psychology, child protection and social work, educational psychology and teaching, occupational psychology and human resources, marketing and management, health psychology and nursing, mental health, youth worker and counsellor, sport psychology and coaching, psychological and government research, youth offending services, clinical psychology. What will I be doing on the course? During AS you will investigate eyewitnesses and false memory, how obedience and prejudice can lead to genocide, conditioning behaviour and therapies, brain development and gender differences, and the role of the unconscious and Psychoanalysis. At A2 level you will understand criminal profiling, causes of criminality, and controlling aggression, clinical disorders, their causes and treatments, the effects of deprivation and privation on children and child therapies, and major issues and debates in psychology. You will participate in a range of activities, such as videos/DVDs, games & quizzes (with prizes!), debates & discussions, presentations, independent research, group work, experiments. Enrichment activities are organised to link with the syllabus, including a range of trips which will incur a charge. Student comments: “I love Psychology. The lecturer is really friendly and she knows what she is on about.” “I would come to college just for Psychology” “The only way Psychology lessons could be better is if there were more of them”

For full time students the course will form part of a larger programme of study which consists of timetabled sessions, enrichment activities, work experience and private study time. To achieve this a student will normally be asked to select from columns of the 6th Form matrix in each year of study. If a student falls below this programme requirement they may be classed as part time by some external agencies and may be required to pay fees for their tuition and/or exams. Please check with the tutor at interview that the subjects you have selected form a full-time programme. Every full time 6th Form student will have a personal tutor and will study a tutorial programme. The tutor will be responsible for the pastoral care of the student and for the tracking and monitoring of their progress on the course. This subject can be selected on its own for part time study for which tuition fees may be payable (please consult Student Services for fee concessions). Part time students may also be required to pay exam fees. You may have the opportunity to go on trips during the year. A small charge will be payable for these visits.

AS - 5 x GCSEs at Grade A* to C in different subjects to include English Language, Maths and Grade B Science A2 - successful completion of AS Psychology at Grade A to C plus a good reference

Progression from GCSEs will normally be to AS Level (or equivalent vocational course) or to employment. Progression from AS Level will normally be to A2, and then on to employment or Higher Education

97.1% pass rate A* - E at A2 in June 2012, with 100% pass in 18 subjects

Lizzie A Level: Psychology, Archeology, English Lizzie, from Gloucester, left Gloucestershire College pleased with her results which secured her a place to study Psychology at the University of Plymouth following a gap year. “I’m pleased - my results are pretty good! I’ve got a gap year now, where I plan to teach horse-riding both here and in the States, and then I’ll come back to study Psychology in Plymouth. I just love psychology and learning about how the mind works - eventually I would like to be a clinical psychologist. My A Level here spurred my interest in the subject - I’ve had a really good time at Gloucestershire College, it’s a grown-up independent environment compared to school - I’d recommend it.” Rosemary A Levels: Psychology, Biology, English Rosemary A Levels: Psychology, Biology, English Rosemary from Charlton Kings, achieved two A*s and an A in her A Levels. Rosemary is now studying Occupational Therapy at the University of Southampton. “Gloucestershire College has been really good, especially the Disability Support team. I have M.E. and the College has really supported me. I decided to study Occupational Therapy because of my own personal experience, and I just love chatting to people! Gloucestershire College have helped me to achieve the grades I needed to go on to university.”

Please contact the College on 0845 155 2020 for further details