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The above will walk you through the topics of study during your two years at TSFA

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"If scientists found a gene linked to aggression, should that be used as a defence in criminal trials?"

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"If scientists found a gene linked to aggression, should that be used as a defence in criminal trials?"

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After watching Milgram — would you have obeyed? Be honest.

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After watching Milgram — would you have obeyed? Be honest.

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Nature vs nurture — which do you think shapes who you are more?

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Nature vs nurture — which do you think shapes who you are more?

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Understanding the human brain and the functions of different areas of the brain.

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We've just flicked the switch on moving all our digital resources to instant digital download - via our new subject stores.

For every subject you can now access each digital resource as soon as it is ordered. This will always be the latest edition of each resource too (and we'll update you automatically if there is an upgraded version to use).

Simply add the required resources to your cart, checkout using the usual options and your resources will be available to access immediately via your mytutor2u account.

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Localisation of Function: Biopsychology Webinar Video | tutor2u Psychology

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We've just flicked the switch on moving all our digital resources to instant digital download - via our new subject stores. For every subject you can now access each digital resource as soon as it is ordered. This will always be the latest edition of each resource too (and we'll update you automatically if there is an upgraded version to use).

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Can you think of a time you were influenced by someone without realising it?

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Can you think of a time you were influenced by someone without realising it?

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Is psychology a science? What would it need to be one?

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Is psychology a science? What would it need to be one?

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Clear, accurate summaries of the key studies you'll meet in A-level. Great for building your background knowledge before term starts.

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Simply Psychology | Self-Care, Theories, Famous Studies & More

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We're committed to being your expert and trustworthy source for psychology theories, relationship advice, and mental health information. Whether you want to learn about theories or studies, understand a mental health disorder, or how to improve your relationships, get the guidance you need to be healthy and happy.

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Body language secrets of key figures of 2017

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A superb twenty minute video from Peter Collett broadcast on Sky News. He examines the tell-tale body language signs of Donald Trump, Melania Trump, Theresa May, Jeremy Corbyn and Vladimir Putin.

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How do biopsychologists study the human brain?

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We've just flicked the switch on moving all our digital resources to instant digital download - via our new subject stores.

For every subject you can now access each digital resource as soon as it is ordered. This will always be the latest edition of each resource too (and we'll update you automatically if there is an upgraded version to use).

Simply add the required resources to your cart, checkout using the usual options and your resources will be available to access immediately via your mytutor2u account.

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Ways of Studying the Brain: Biopsychology Webinar Video | tutor2u Psychology

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We've just flicked the switch on moving all our digital resources to instant digital download - via our new subject stores. For every subject you can now access each digital resource as soon as it is ordered. This will always be the latest edition of each resource too (and we'll update you automatically if there is an upgraded version to use).

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How do Psychodynamic psychologist explain human behaviour?

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The Psychodynamic Approach Explained | Approaches | A-Level Psychology

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Psychology Y13 Curriculum Map 2026-2027 (Termly) (1)

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Super Curricular activity is different to extra curricular, in that it is something academic that takes your learning further than the classroom. Here are just a few suggested activities to help you prepare for college and beyond!

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Read the document and find out what offender profiling is - This is part of Forensic Psychology which you will learn in paper 3. Conduct your own research to further understand the different types of offenders.

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Takes 2 minutes. Why is it so hard to name the colour of the word "red" written in blue ink? Try it and find out.

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The Stroop Task is one of the best known psychological experiments named after John Ridley Stroop. The Stroop phenomenon demonstrates that it is difficult to name the ink color of a color word if there is a mismatch between ink color and word. For example, the word GREEN printed in red ink. The wikipedia web site gives a good description of the effect.

Colin MacLeod's (1991) review article in the influential psychological journal Psychological Bulletin is frequently cited when discussing the effect.

There are many variations on the basic effect using other stimuli than colored words.

It is easier to measure key presses than the time it takes to name a task; therefore, there are "manual" Stroop tasks in which you need to press colored keys.

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The Stroop Task is one of the best known psychological experiments named after John Ridley Stroop. The Stroop phenomenon demonstrates that it is difficult to name the ink color of a color word if there is a mismatch between ink color and word. For example, the word GREEN printed in red ink.

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Everything you need to know about studying psychology @TSFA.

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Sign up to PsyBlog to receive daily emails containing links to brief summaries of some of the latest research. This will give you a good understanding of the diverse nature of the subject and some of these studies you can use directly in your A level.

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JOIN 60,000+ PSYCHOLOGY LOVERS

A new psych study by email every day. No spam, ever.

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Understand your mind with the science of psychology -

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Read through this document to learn more about what psychology is (and what psychology isn't!)

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Complete the attached sheet to make a note of your favourite careers.

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Watch the following investigation into ‘The Halo Effect’. Can you identify the psychologist’s aim and hypothesis?

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Read through Arthur Shawcross's profile, research the profile which had been generated by the FBI before his arrest. Was the profile accurate?

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Who Was Arthur Shawcross?

Arthur Shawcross' parents dispute his claims that he was molested as a child, but it's clear that he was troubled. In 1972, he confessed to killing two children and went to prison. His records were sealed so he could settle in a new town without causing a panic. But from 1988 to 1990, Shawcross killed 11 women in upstate New York, earning the nickname "Genesee River Killer." He died in prison.

Early Life

Shawcross was born on June 6, 1945, and died on November 10, 2008, while serving a life sentence for the murder of 11 women. From his birthplace of Kittery, Maine, his family moved to Watertown, a small town near Lake Ontario in New York State, when he was still a child. Shawcross claims that his adolescence was turbulent, and cites a difficult relationship with both parents, particularly his domineering mother, for his later troubles. He says he also exhibited behavioral problems at an early age, including bed-wetting and bullying.

Shawcross also made extreme reports about his early sexuality. He claimed his aunt sexually molested him when he was 9, and that he had sexual relations with his younger sister. He also admitted to his first homosexual encounter at the age of 11, which he says was followed by experimentation with bestiality.

In contrast to these claims, however, his parents and siblings maintain that he had a normal childhood, and the described events were largely the product of his imagination. There is no way of knowing whose version represents the reality of his upbringing, but what became clear, later on, was that Shawcross would change his stories at will, as he was interviewed by various professionals in the course of their investigations.

From school records it can be independently verified that he was an inveterate truant, with a particularly low IQ, a tendency to bullying and violence and that he came under suspicion for a series of juvenile arson attacks as well as burglaries. He dropped out of school after failing to pass the ninth grade, and the next few years were punctuated with violence and jail sentences. He received his first probationary sentence in December 1963 for smashing a shop window.

Arrest and Imprisonment

Shawcross married first wife, Sarah, in September 1964. The couple produced a son in October 1965. But another probationary charge for unlawful entry in November 1965, proved the last straw for his marriage and he was divorced soon after.

His second marriage, following drafting into the Army in April 1967, was also tainted by violence and was equally short-lived. He served a tour of duty in the Vietnam War in October 1967, and he later claimed that he murdered and cannibalized two young Vietnamese girls and several children while there. There is no corroborating evidence to support this, however. He also claimed a "combat kill" total of 39 which, when investigated later, was also discounted as fabrication; authorities claim he killed no one on his tour of duty.

On his return from military duty in 1968, he landed in trouble yet again when he was caught and convicted for an arson attack. Shawcross served two years of a five-year jail term. He was released in October 1971 and returned to Watertown again. A year later, on April 7, 1972, he claimed his first victim: 10-year-old neighbor Jack Blake. Shawcross took him fishing just a few days before he disappeared, but denied any knowledge of the disappearance. Several weeks later on April 22, 1972, he married his third wife, Penny Sherbino, who was pregnant with his child.

Five months later, his victim's body was finally located. He had been sexually assaulted and suffocated, but police had no leads to the identity of the killer. Jack Blake would be the first of many more victims.

In September 1972, the body of 8-year-old Karen Ann Hill was found under a bridge. She had been raped and murdered. Police found mud, leaves and other debris had been forced down her throat and inside her clothing. Neighbors remembered that Shawcross had been seen with Karen in the vicinity of the bridge before her disappearance, and he had a history of minor run-ins with local children. Shawcross came under immediate suspicion.

He was arrested on October 3, 1972, and finally confessed to both killings, although he was only charged with Karen Hill's killing, given the lack of evidence tying him to Jack Blake's death. He received a 25-year jail sentence, and third wife Penny divorced him shortly thereafter.

Release From Prison

After serving less than 15 years of this sentence, he was released on parole in April 1987. The well-publicized resettlement of a child killer in the Binghamton area of New York State was greeted by a public outcry, and he was forced to leave the area after a few months along with his new girlfriend, Rose Whalley.

His past meant that he would be unwelcome almost anywhere, and the authorities made the decision to seal his criminal record in order to prevent a recurrence of the public alarm in Binghamton. They moved Shawcross and Whalley to Rochester, New York, where she became his fourth wife. In Rochester, Shawcross took on a succession of menial jobs. His lackluster marriage to Whalley meant that he was soon seeking solace elsewhere, both from prostitutes as well as his new girlfriend, Clara Neal.

It did not take long for Shawcross to return to his murderous ways. Hunters discovered his next victim, 27-year-old prostitute Dorothy Blackburn, on March 24, 1988. Her body was found in the Genesee River, dumped there following a vicious attack, which included bite marks in the groin area and strangulation.

With little evidence, and no public impetus to solve the murder of a prostitute, her case languished for over a year. There were other murders of prostitutes in that time but, given the danger of the profession, nothing untoward was noticed that linked any of the cases.

The discovery of the body of another prostitute, Anna Steffen, on September 9, 1989, linked several of the victims. She died of asphyxia, and her body had been dumped in a similar manner to Blackburn's corpse. Her body, however, was found far from the original murder scene, so again the possibility that a serial killer was at work was not recognized.

Mounting Death Toll

On October 21, 1989, the body of homeless woman Dorothy Keeler, aged 59, was discovered followed six days later by another prostitute, Patricia Ives, in the same area. Both had been asphyxiated and the press started to show an interest as the cases were linked. They nicknamed the offender "Genesee River Killer."

In all the previous cases at least some attempt at concealment had been made, which police felt indicated previous criminal or military experience. They began to advise prostitutes working in the area to exercise caution, and sought as much information as possible about strangers operating in the area. They also began checking criminal records for offenders who might be living in the immediate area. Shawcross' sealed criminal record meant that he shielded him from police scrutiny.

As prostitutes continued to disappear, it became apparent that the killer must be someone familiar to the women who worked in the area. Police were able to piece together a description of a regular client called "Mitch" or "Mike." Women said this particular john was prone to violence.

Then the body of 26-year-old June Stott, who was neither a prostitute nor drug user, was found on Thanksgiving Day. She had been strangled, anally mutilated after death, had her labia removed, and was gutted from throat to crotch like a wild animal.

Police Investigation

With the body count mounting, the police sought assistance from FBI profilers. They divided the 11 unsolved prostitute murders into sub-groups according to method and position. They developed a profile that described the killer as a white male in his 20s or 30s, who was strong, probably with a previous criminal record, familiar with the area, and comfortable enough with the victims that they would enter his vehicle without question.

The lack of sexual interference indicated it might be someone with sexual dysfunction. The post-mortem injury inflicted on June Stott, and not on any other victim, indicated that the killer was becoming more comfortable around corpses, probably returning to the crime scene again later to relive the attack.

The discovery of the body of Elizabeth Gibson, on November 27, brought a breakthrough: suspect "Mitch" had been seen with her shortly before her disappearance, but they seemed no closer to establishing his identity. Police tried various tactics, including canvassing all the local bars, to no avail.

When a pair of discarded jeans was discovered near the river on December 31, 1989, containing an ID card for a girl named Felicia Stephens, police began an aerial search of the surrounding area. On January 2, 1990, a helicopter spotted what appeared to be a naked female body lying on the ice surface of the river by a bridge in the forest. The body was not Felicia Stephens but that of missing prostitute June Cicero. She had also been mutilated post-mortem, as well as sawn practically in half.

Apprehension and Arrest

Even more importantly, the helicopter spotted a man standing on the bridge next to a small van. He appeared to be either masturbating or urinating. Fortunately for the authorities, Shawcross had, as speculated, returned to the scene of one of his crimes to relive the pleasure of the attack.

Patrol teams on the ground were alerted to the vehicle, which had sped away. They finally tracked down Shawcross via the car's registration, which was in the name of his girlfriend Clara Neal. When approached, Shawcross agreed to assist the police with their enquiries. When they asked for his driver's license, he admitted he did not have one and then revealed that he had been in jail for manslaughter.

Police were confident they had their killer, and further questioning revealed the earlier child deaths and a grandiose account of his Vietnam War service, which was later discounted. A photo taken of him during the initial questioning soon confirmed his identity as "Mitch," and official enquiries unearthed the reason for Shawcross' sealed record, which prevented the police from tracking him down sooner.

Still, police were unable to get Shawcross to admit to the murders - until they confirmed that a piece of jewelery he had given to Clara Neal previously belonged to victim June Cicero. When police threatened to implicate her in the killings, Shawcross capitulated and admitted to most of the murders, giving detailed excuses about why he had been "forced" to kill each one. He even admitted to the killing of two undiscovered bodies, those of prostitutes Maria Welsh and Darlene Trippi, leading investigators to their bodies. His formal confession was nearly 80 pages long.

Trial, Imprisonment and Death

In November 1990, Shawcross went on trial for the 10 murders that had occurred in Monroe County. The last victim, Elizabeth Gibson, had been killed in neighboring Wayne County. The trial was a national media event, extensively televised and widely viewed.

Shawcross' defense team tried to build a case based on an insanity plea, citing various mitigating factors, such as his upbringing, post-traumatic stress as a result of military service, a cyst on the brain and a rare genetic defect.

The prosecution was quick to dispute the claims about his childhood and military service, casting doubts on Shawcross' testimony. The physiological evidence about brain science and genetic factors was, at best, spurious and beyond the understanding of the jury. It was also hindered by poor presentation on the part of the expert witnesses called to testify.

Shawcross was declared sane - and guilty of 10 instances of second-degree murder. The judge sentenced him to 25 years for each count, a total of 250 years imprisonment. A few months later, Shawcross was taken to Wayne County to be tried for Elizabeth Gibson's murder. Rather than claim insanity this time, he pleaded guilty and received a further life sentence.

Shawcross was held at the Sullivan Correctional Facility in New York State until November 10, 2008, when he complained of pain in his leg. He was transferred to a hospital where he died later that day of cardiac arrest.

Fact Check

We strive for accuracy and fairness. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact us!

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Arthur Shawcross' parents dispute his claims that he was molested as a child, but it's clear that he was troubled. In 1972, he confessed to killing two children and went to prison. His records were sealed so he could settle in a new town without causing a panic.

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A research-based personality questionnaire. After you get your results, ask yourself: does this feel accurate? How would you know?

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Q. What is the Big Five personality test based on?

A. The Big Five personality test is a comprehensive personality inventory based on decades of psychological research. Psychologists and academic researchers investigating the fundamental traits of personality found repeatedly that people's personality differences naturally sort into five broad dimensions, referred to as the Big Five.

Today, the consensus among the scientific community is that human personality is most accurately described in terms of these Big Five personality traits. The Big Five model of personality is widely considered to be the most scientifically valid way to describe personality differences and is the basis of most current personality research.

Q. What are the Big Five personality traits?

A. The "Big Five" or Five Factors refers to the five major personality dimensions that psychologists have determined are core to our individual makeup. The Big Five personality traits are:

Openness - How open a person is to new ideas and experiences

Conscientiousness - How goal-directed, persistent, and organized a person is

Extraversion - How much a person is energized by the outside world

Agreeableness - How much a person puts others' interests and needs ahead of their own

Neuroticism - How sensitive a person is to stress and negative emotional triggers

Each of the Big Five personality traits is considered to drive a significant aspect of cognition (how we think) and behavior (how we act). Each trait is completely distinct and independent of the other four traits; for instance, a highly Extraverted person is no more or less likely to be highly Conscientious as well.

For an individual, each of the Big Five personality traits is measured along a spectrum, so that one can be high, medium, or low in that particular trait. This makes the Big Five model distinct from many pop psychology systems that classify people in terms of personality "types." In the Big Five framework, rather than being sorted into types, people are described in terms of how they compare with the average across each of the five personality traits.

Q. How long is the Big Five test?

A. The test consists of 60 questions and takes about 5-10 minutes to complete.

Q. What will my Big Five test results look like?

A. You will first see a brief, free report showing the basic findings of your personality test. Then, you have the option of unlocking your full report for a small fee. To see what you can expect from your full report, check out this sample Big Five report.

Q. How can I access my Big Five personality test results?

A. After you take a test, you will have the option to create an account by entering your email address. If you create an account, you can view your test results at any time by returning to Truity.com and logging into your account. We do not email your results to you.

Q. Do I need to complete this personality test all at once?

A. If you've created an account and are logged in when you take the test, your responses will be saved as you go through the test. If you do not log in to a Truity account before starting the test, your progress will not be saved and you will need to complete the test all at once.

Q. Is this personality test really free?

A. You do not need to purchase or register to take this test and view an overview of your results. If you would like, you can purchase a more comprehensive full report for a small fee.

Q. Is this Big Five personality test accurate?

A. This test has been researched extensively to ensure it is valid and reliable. It is based on psychological research into the core of personality and Truity's own psychometric research. Your scores show you how you compare to the other people in a large, international sample for each of the Big Five personality traits. You can learn more in the Big Five Personality Test Technical Documentation.

Q. What does it mean that the Big Five test is clinically reviewed?

A. Truity's Big Five test has been reviewed by a psychologist to ensure that it has been developed according to rigorous standards of reliability and validity. Our clinical reviewer, Dr. Steven Melendy, holds a doctoral degree in clinical psychology and specializes in using evidence-based approaches to work with diverse populations.

Q. Can I have my employees, team or group take the Big Five test?

A. Absolutely. Our Truity @ Work platform is designed to make it easy to give the Big Five personality test to your team or group. See discounted group pricing and learn how to quickly and easily set up testing for your group on the Testing for Business page.

Q. What is the difference between Big Five, Five Factor, and the OCEAN model of personality?

A. Big Five, Five Factor, and OCEAN are all ways of describing the same theory of personality. Multiple psychological studies have arrived at the conclusion that the differences between people's personalities can be organized into five broad categories, called the Big Five or Five Factors. These are sometimes referred to as the five broad dimensions of personality.

Q. Are you going to sell my data?

A. . We do not sell your email or other data to any third parties, and we have a zero-spam policy. We carefully comply with applicable privacy laws in handling your personal information. You can read more in our privacy policy.

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Explore your personality with the highly respected Five Factor model (AKA the Big Five). You'll see how you stack up on 5 major dimensions of personality: Openness, Conscientiousness, Agreeableness, Extraversion, and Neuroticism. The Big Five model of personality is widely considered to be the most robust way to describe personality differences.

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Research and construct and argument around the following question...

Is psychology a science?

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Philip Zimbardo knows how easy it is for nice people to turn bad. In this talk, he shares insights and graphic unseen photos from the Abu Ghraib trials. Then he talks about the flip side: how easy it is to be a hero, and how we can rise to the challenge.

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Find out about the work of BF Skinner, one of the key figures in the development of Psychology.

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Watch the Youtube video to provide you with some background knowledge on Freud

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Psychology is the most popular course at TSFA, and the most popular degree course that our students go on to study. We are lucky to have a great team of specialist teachers ready to support you in your journey into the study of behaviour.

Please take some time to explore the resources on this page. They are designed to give you a taster of the subject as we are aware that for most of you, A-level will be the first opportunity you've had to experience this unique subject.

If you have any questions about the course, content or simply want to know more, please contact the following email address and add the subject 'FAO: Psychology teachers'

contactus@sixth.trinitymat.org

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Ofsted, 2021

Leaders and governors foster a culture of exceptionally high expectations for students' academic success

Ofsted, 2021

Students enjoy their lessons, which are taught by skilled, enthusiastic and knowledgeable teachers

You're treated as an individual... Everything is geared towards getting you ready for life and the staff really help prepare you for your exams

Ofsted, 2021

Leaders and staff create an exceptionally safe and welcoming culture

Ofsted, 2021

Students participate in an extensive range of activities and projects that develop their confidence and broaden their interests

Ofsted, 2021

There exists an ambitious curriculum that equips students exceptionally well with the knowledge and skills that they need to progress

Ofsted, 2021

Students thrive in the academy's calm and harmonious environment

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Trinity Sixth Form Academy - Outstanding Sixth Form in Halifax

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Ofsted, 2021 Leaders and governors foster a culture of exceptionally high expectations for students' academic success Ofsted, 2021 Students enjoy their lessons, which are taught by skilled, enthusiastic and knowledgeable teachers You're treated as an individual...

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Follow this link to read summaries of some of the latest research in Psychology. You can sign up to the BPS Research Digest to receive regular emails with this information.

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The British Psychological Society

Championing psychology since 1901, we represent and promote psychology, psychologists and the wider psychological professions. Our membership is diverse, but we all share a passion for psychology and the impact it has on individuals and society.

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The British Psychological Society Championing psychology since 1901, we represent and promote psychology, psychologists and the wider psychological professions. Our membership is diverse, but we all share a passion for psychology and the impact it has on individuals and society.

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Watch the Ted Talk By Elizabeth Loftus on Eye Witness Testimonies

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Psychologist Elizabeth Loftus studies memories. More precisely, she studies false memories, when people either remember things that didn’t happen or remember them differently from the way they really were. It’s more common than you might think, and Loftus shares some startling stories and statistics -- and raises some important ethical questions.