The BPS and pre- degree psychology Gerry Mulhern FBPsS BPS President

This session What do pre-degree psychology teachers know about the British Psychological Society? What does the Society already do for pre-degree teachers and students? What more should we do?

About the Society Learned Society and Professional Body 2nd largest in the world circa 50,000 members circa 130 staff circa 9,000 student subscribers 2nd oldest Founded 1901

Questions What is/are the greatest challenge(s) facing you as a teacher of pre-degree psychology? In an ideal world, what would you change?

“If you could change aspects of the course, what would you do?” (Maras & Bradshaw, 2007) more contact teaching time reduce the content of the syllabus allow a longer teaching period make the course less assessment focused emphasise the research and practical nature of psychology

Issue 1: Why do relatively few pupils study A-level psychology in NI? Vicious circle: prior psychology qualifications generally ignored by university admissions services

Issue 2: Psychology as a Science A-level QCA and Ofsted have reclassified psychology as a science subject Psychology will be reviewed in line with other science subjects to meet common core criteria and will be inspected as a science Psychology moved both intellectually and physically into school science departments - or has it?

Some relevant things we do as a learned society

Recognising pre-degree teachers and teaching Dorothy Coombs: 2007 BPS Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Teaching of Psychology First winner outside the tertiary sector Association for the Teaching of Psychology

Psychology Education Board (PEB) Priorities include … Develop capability for teacher networks Excellence in Teaching Award for A- level and Scottish Highers Databank of good practice examples for teachers Teacher workshops at BPS Annual Conference Continue to engage with TDA over number of PGCE courses for psychology graduates

Standing Committee on Pre- Tertiary Education (SCoPTE) Sub-committee of the Psychology Education Board concerned with issues relating to psychology qualifications such as: A Levels Scottish Highers Psychology Teachers in schools and colleges Teacher Training for Psychologists

Terms of reference include: Routes to qualified teacher status Pre-tertiary curricula Academic and scientific rigor Enhancing teaching at pre-tertiary level Liaison with outside agencies Usefulness of pre-tertiary psychology as preparation for UG study Usefulness of pre-tertiary psychology qualifications in their own right

Standing Committee for Psychology Education to Other Groups (ScPEOG) Assist those who teach psychology but do not have qualifications in the field Help other professions establish a core psychology curriculum for their training Complementary role to SCoPTE

Division of Teachers and Researchers in Psychology (DTRP) Corresponding membership Affiliate membership Full membership

DTRP benefits The DTRP membership publication Psychology Teaching Review The DTRP newsletter Reduced fees at Division events Increased website access - including resources bank and events listings Joining the Society media database

Training and CPD BPS & National Science Learning Centres provide some training for psychology teachers already in post

What about your students? BPS student membership Open to students taking an undergraduate degree, A Level, AS, A2 or Scottish Higher in Psychology £17 p/a by DD

Student membership: Benefits The Psychologist house journal Membership of the Society's Student Members Group PsychTalk, the quarterly magazine with a careers focus from the SMG Discounts on books, journals and conference fees Recognition of belonging to a professional body, opportunities to get involved, early career support

Student Members Group

Facebook Comprehensive links, e.g.: Disabled students Psychology Student Network (Yahoo group) psychWIRE Quoteworld

BPS Research Digest “Unmissable read for psychology students, teachers, lecturers or anyone interested in what makes us tick” Fortnightly Free Engaging round up of the latest psychology research More than 21,000 subscribers For free subscription visit:

Going forward … Resources Training and professional development Continue to enhance the standing of pre-tertiary psychology including that of teachers