Psychology A Level OCR

Our Sixth Form Open Evening will take place on Thursday 19th November. As this is always a very popular event, we run three separate booking slots throughout the evening to help us accommodate as many families as possible and ensure everyone has the opportunity to visit.

Booking is now live! Please follow this link to book your tickets before they're all gone: https://www.ticketsource.com/the-canterbury-academy-open-events/e-mgrrozg

We look forward to welcoming you and giving you the opportunity to find out more about our Sixth Form, meet our staff and students explore the fantastic opportunities available to our students.

If you have any questions in the meantime, please don't hesitate to get in touch.

Applications Open – 2nd November 2026

Applications Close – 30th June 2027

Entry Requirements –We do have entry recommendations for some courses, especially A-levels, as we would not want you to start a course that would not be suitable for you. We want to give you the best chance of future success.

The course programmes are flexible: students can mix Level 3 courses with Level 2 courses, or A-levels with BTECs. We provide impartial advice and guidance and seek to put you on the courses you want and are likely to be successful in.

Students are expected to study up to 3 A level equivalent subjects (this can be from either A levels and/or Level 3 BTEC subjects) building their own personalised combination of Level 3 subjects OR a full time Level 2 course.

The Sixth Form runs on a flexible timetable with some courses running until 6.00pm. This flexibility means we can offer as much as possible, to as many as possible, as often as possible.

How to Apply – Applications are currently closed. Please check back at the beginning of November to submit your application.

Psychology is the study of the links between the brain and behaviour.

• Why do we do behave the way we do?
• Why do human beings love or hate?
• How do we find out about behaviour?
• What can we do with what we find out?

Psychology tries to answer these questions, and A Level Psychology is both really useful, and really interesting.

• Interesting because who wouldn’t want to know why eye-witnesses usually make mistakes in identifying potential criminals, or how we understand what other people think?
• Useful because psychology can be applied in everyday life and in every aspect of the wider world.

The aims of these qualifications are to encourage students to:

• Stimulate and develop their enjoyment of, and enthusiasm for, psychology
• Develop and demonstrate skills, including practical and research skills
• Develop essential knowledge and understanding of different areas of the subject and how they relate to each other
• Appreciate how the subject develops and how its applications interact with changes in human attitudes, and with changes in society and technology
• Recognise the value, use and misuse of the subject in society

In their first year students will study a range of core studies from each of the five key approaches (social, cognitive, biological, individual differences and developmental).

The core studies cover a wide range of different topics including obedience, autism, bystander behaviour and brain damage.

Students will become familiar with several different research methods and with analysing data.

In year two students will study modules including forensic psychology, sports psychology and mental health issues.

We would recommend a level 6 at GCSE in English Language and mathematics, and a grade 6 in GCSE science.

Universities and employers know that students with A Level psychology have a range of useful skills (research, communication, social, organisation).

The course is beneficial to students who want to go on to study psychology at university and those who choose to go on into other areas.