BTEC APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY
At Key Stage 5, students studying BTEC Applied Psychology engage with a rich, career-focused curriculum that combines academic knowledge with practical application. This qualification is ideal for learners who are interested in understanding human behaviour and mental processes in real-world contexts such as healthcare, education, criminology, and the workplace.
The course is designed to nurture critical thinking, scientific reasoning, and ethical reflection. It balances rigorous content with accessible and engaging tasks, fostering analytical, evaluative, and research skills. Students investigate contemporary psychological issues, conduct independent research, and explore the influence of psychological theories in everyday life—making the course both relatable and intellectually stimulating.
The BTEC structure ensures that students apply their learning in a range of formats: written reports, case studies, data analysis, and presentations. Through a mix of external exams and internally assessed coursework, students develop skills essential for both higher education and employment, such as communication, time management, and project planning. The Applied Psychology course at The Bicester School supports personal growth, professional development, and confidence in navigating real-world challenges.
ASSESSMENT SCHEDULE
- Unit 1 – Psychological Approaches and Applications: Externally assessed via exam in May of Year 12
- Unit 2 – Conducting Psychological Research: Internally assessed through coursework (Jan, Mar, Apr)
- Unit 3 – Health Psychology: Externally assessed via exam in January of Year 13
- Unit 4 – Criminal and Forensic Psychology: Internally assessed through coursework (Feb, Apr, May)
KS5 topics by year
Year 12
Unit 1 – Psychological Approaches and Applications (Teacher 1)
- This term, students will be introduced to four key psychological approaches to explain behaviour.
- They’ll explore how we think (Cognitive), how others influence us (Social), how we learn from experience (Behaviourist and Social Learning), and how biology and evolution shape who we are (Biological).
Unit 2 – Conducting Psychological Research (Teacher 2)
- This term, students will be introduced to the foundations of psychological research.
- They’ll learn why research is important, what makes it scientific, and explore key methods like experiments and interviews.
- The unit also highlights real-world applications and the skills needed to carry out high-quality research.
Unit 1 – Psychological Approaches and Applications (Teacher 1)
- This term, students will examine the psychological causes of aggression in modern society.
- They’ll explore different types of aggression and apply theories that explain how thinking patterns, social influences, and biological factors—like brain function and hormones—contribute to aggressive behaviour.
- The topic encourages real-world application and reflection on its wider impact.
Unit 2 – Conducting Psychological Research (Teacher 2)
- This term, students will develop their understanding of how to design, conduct, and report psychological research.
- They’ll learn key terminology, explore data sources, and follow each step of the research process—from planning to analysis and presentation.
- Ethical considerations and academic writing skills are also a core focus.
Unit 1 – Psychological Approaches and Applications (Teacher 1)
- This term, students will explore how psychology is applied in business to influence consumer behaviour.
- They’ll learn how thinking patterns, biases, and habits affect decision-making, and how marketing uses reinforcement, social influence, and celebrity endorsement.
- The topic also introduces neuromarketing—using technology to track how consumers respond to adverts—helping students understand the psychology behind everyday shopping choices.
Unit 2 – Conducting Psychological Research (Teacher 2)
- This term, students will learn how to design and plan psychological investigations.
- They’ll explore qualitative and quantitative research methods, data analysis techniques, and the benefits of mixed methods.
- Students will also create their own research proposals, considering ethical guidelines, literature reviews, and the practical impact of their work.
Unit 1 – Psychological Approaches and Applications (Teacher 1)
- This term, students will explore how psychology explains gender and identity.
- They’ll learn key terms like binary, non-binary, and gender fluid, and examine how gender is shaped by cognitive, social, learning, and biological influences.
- The topic encourages students to understand how stereotypes, media, and genetics all play a role in shaping gender identity in today’s society.
Unit 2 – Conducting Psychological Research (Teacher 2)
- This term, students will complete their own psychological research projects.
- They’ll design a study, collect and analyse data, and present their findings using a range of formats.
- The unit encourages reflection on the research process and helps students build confidence in applying psychology to real-world issues.
Unit 1 – Psychological Approaches and Applications (Teacher 1)
- Revision
Unit 3 – Health Psychology (Teacher 2)
- This term, students will explore how psychology explains health, ill health, addiction, and stress.
- They’ll learn how different models define health and examine how addiction and stress affect the mind and body.
- The unit also covers how biological, behavioural, social, and cognitive factors influence health behaviours, helping students understand how psychology promotes positive lifestyle changes.
Unit 3 – Health Psychology (Teacher 1)
- This term, students will explore the causes, effects, and responses to stress.
- They’ll study common stress triggers, how the body reacts through systems like fight or flight, and the role of hormones.
- Students will also examine how thoughts, gender, and personality influence stress and consider its short- and long-term impact on health.
Unit 3 – Health Psychology (Teacher 2)
- This term, students will study psychological theories that explain stress and addiction.
- They’ll explore how models like the Health Belief Model, Locus of Control, and Theory of Planned Behaviour help predict behaviour.
- Students will also learn how confidence and readiness to change influence outcomes, applying these ideas to real-life examples of behaviour change.
Year 13
Unit 3 – Health Psychology (Teacher 1)
- This term, students will explore psychological explanations for physiological addiction, such as smoking and alcohol use.
- They’ll learn how addiction starts, is maintained, and why relapse happens, using biological, learning, and cognitive approaches.
- Real-life examples help students understand how and why addictive behaviours develop.
Unit 3 – Health Psychology (Teacher 2)
- This term, students will explore psychological explanations for non-substance-related addictions like gambling and shopping.
- They’ll examine how these behaviours start, continue, and relapse, focusing on learning and cognitive factors such as emotional triggers, reinforcement, and distorted thinking. Real-life examples will help students understand and apply these ideas.
Unit 3 – Health Psychology (Teacher 1)
- This term, students will explore how psychology supports behaviour change, especially in health contexts.
- They’ll study theories of persuasion and why some people struggle to maintain healthy habits.
- Students will also evaluate strategies like health education, reminders, and support systems that help encourage long-term positive change.
Unit 3 – Health Psychology (Teacher 2)
- This term, students will explore how addiction and stress can be treated and managed using psychological and physiological methods.
- They’ll examine therapies like CBT, mindfulness, and support networks, as well as practical treatments such as medication and exercise.
- The focus is on applying these methods to real-life situations and evaluating their effectiveness.
Unit 3 – Health Psychology (Teacher 1)
- Revision
Unit 4 – Criminal and Forensic Psychology (Teacher 2)
- This term, students will explore psychological explanations for criminal behaviour.
- They’ll examine biological factors such as genes, brain structures, and the role of the amygdala, as well as personality traits and moral development.
- Social learning, peer influence, and upbringing are also considered in understanding how criminal behaviour develops.
- In addition, students will study offender profiling, comparing the top-down FBI approach with the bottom-up British approach, to see how psychology supports criminal investigations.
Unit 4 – Criminal and Forensic Psychology (Teacher 2)
- This term, students will explore how criminal behaviour is punished and modified.
- They’ll evaluate the effectiveness and ethics of different punishments, such as prison and community sentences, and examine psychological methods like anger management, restorative justice, and token economies used to support rehabilitation and reduce reoffending.
Unit 4 – Criminal and Forensic Psychology (Teacher 2)
- This term, students will study offender profiling as a tool in criminal investigations.
- They’ll compare the top-down FBI method with the bottom-up UK approach and learn how profiles are built using crime scene details and behavioural patterns.
- The topic also explores the strengths and limitations of profiling, including concerns about accuracy and ethics.
Key Contact
If you would like any more information about this subject, please contact Kelly McKaig – Kelly.mckaig@thebicesterschool.org.uk