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Psychology

Psychology is a popular and successful option at Clifton College, with 81% of students gaining an A* - C grades at A Level in the summer 2011 examinations. At present there are 30 students in the lower sixth form studying AS Level and 31 pupils in the upper sixth form studying A2 Level Psychology.

Head of Psychology
Mr Michael Whitton

Many pupils are drawn to Psychology as an exciting science subject that seeks to address questions about human behaviour. Often pupils will choose the subject as a cross-over between sciences and humanity subjects.

We follow the AQA-B specification for Psychology, the approach is from an empirical angle; experimental evidence and scientific research is considered and evaluated to develop an understanding of the topics. In the first year pupils study aspects of social and cognitive Psychology as well as the key approaches to the subject and the biological study of the mind and the brain. In the second year pupils develop their knowledge of research techniques and their relative strengths as well as studying child development, cognition and law and mood disorders and schizophrenia.

Resources

The Psychology department is located in the new Sixth Form Centre with two classrooms on the first floor.

Teaching

Pupils are encouraged to actively engage with their learning through scaffolded activities to guide their assimilation of knowledge. Interactive resources and up to date ICT techniques are employed as well as practical tasks; we teach pupils to design, plan and evaluate their own investigations.

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