September 2026 Psychology subject update

SCoPESC: Collaboratively Shaping the Future of Psychology Education in Schools and Colleges

Psychology is playing an increasingly visible role in education. Whether it’s supporting student wellbeing, helping us understand behaviour, or informing approaches to teaching and learning, psychological science is now part of everyday school and college life in a way it perhaps never was before.

As the subject continues to grow, so does the need for clear, reliable and practical support for teachers. This isn’t just about psychology specialists—it’s about anyone using psychological ideas in the classroom, often without even realising it.

The British Psychological Society’s Standing Committee on Psychology Education in Schools and Colleges (SCoPESC) has been set up to help meet that need. As part of the BPS Division of Academics, Researchers and Teachers in Psychology (DARTP), the committee focuses on strengthening psychology education across all settings.

I would like to introduce myself. I am Jake Eagleton-Mitchell, CPsychol, AFBPsS, a secondary school Psychology Teacher and Head of Social Science. My work in the classroom very much shapes my thinking and my championing of a BPS that supports its teachers and schools. I know firsthand the pressures teachers are under, and how valuable it is to have guidance, research and resources that are not only accurate but also usable.

Our Purpose

At its heart, SCoPESC is here to support teachers.

That includes:
• Psychology teachers in schools and colleges
• Non-specialist teachers using psychological ideas in their subjects
• Educators drawing on psychology to support learning, behaviour and wellbeing

A lot of what we’re trying to do is bridge a gap. Psychological research is rich and fascinating—but it doesn’t always land in a way that feels immediately useful in the classroom. Our aim is to help translate that research into something practical, realistic and grounded in day-to-day teaching and school leadership.

A National Voice for Psychology Education

One of the things we’re working towards is a stronger, more joined-up voice for psychology education across the UK.

That means working across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to support consistent access to high-quality, evidence-informed practice. It also means building stronger relationships with awarding organisations and exam boards so that psychology is supported not just as a qualification, but as a discipline that can genuinely enhance teaching and learning more widely.

We’re also keen to see psychology better recognised within education policy. As a scientific discipline—with strong empirical foundations, experimental methods and a clear evidence base—it has a lot to offer beyond the exam classroom. In the longer term, we’d like to see psychology sitting more confidently alongside the core sciences in how it is understood and valued within education systems.

What We Are Developing

A big part of SCoPESC’s work is developing practical, evidence-informed resources in collaboration with teachers, academics and psychologists across the BPS.
At the moment, we’re focusing on areas that teachers tell us matter most:
• Research Methods
• Mental health and wellbeing in education
• Inclusion and neurodiversity
• Behaviour and behaviour change
• Digital wellbeing and phone-free school environments
• Cross-curricular applications of psychology
• Pedagogy
• Careers

Everything we produce is designed to be independent of exam boards but helps upskill and develop psychology applications and understanding for those who are most in need. Our resources and publications are reviewed by relevant BPS specialist divisions, which helps ensure the content is both accurate and up to date. Just as importantly, we try to keep it accessible—something that can be picked up and used without wading through pages of theory.

We’re also beginning to develop online workshops in partnership with universities, focusing on applied psychological skills and helping students engage more deeply with the subject beyond the specification.

Listening to Teachers: A Collaborative Approach

We’re actively speaking with psychology teachers across the UK to understand what’s working well, what isn’t, and where support is most needed. That includes teachers in very different contexts—because the reality of teaching psychology in a large sixth form college is very different from teaching it in a small school where it’s one of many responsibilities.

We’re also interested in how psychology is being used beyond the subject itself, and how the BPS can better support that wider application. Ultimately, we want a British Psychological Society that feels relevant to all educators, not just those working in traditional psychology pathways.

Over the coming months, SCoPESC will be undertaking a nationwide review of psychology education, reaching out to teachers, school leaders and training providers. Your voice is crucial in helping us build an accurate picture of the current landscape and ensure that the British Psychological Society continues to evolve as an inclusive and effective organisation for everyone working in education.

Working Across the Profession

SCoPESC doesn’t work in isolation. We’re fortunate to collaborate with awarding organisations, universities, teacher educators and professional bodies such as the Association for the Teaching of Psychology (ATP).

That collaboration really matters. It helps avoid duplication, strengthens consistency, and ensures that teachers aren’t being overwhelmed with conflicting guidance or resources.

More importantly, it helps build a more connected approach to psychology education—one where different parts of the profession are working with, rather than alongside, each other.

Get Involved

We’re currently developing the BPS Teacher Toolkit, which is a growing collection of free, evidence-informed classroom resources.

We’re always keen to hear from teachers who have ideas, activities or articles they’d like to share. If you’ve created something that works well in your classroom, there’s a good chance it will work for others too.

Submissions can be sent to:
DARTPTeachersToolkit@bps.org.uk

All contributions are reviewed for quality and accuracy before being published. Our editorial team will reach out with questions if required.

Join the Community

BPS membership offers access to CPD at reduced rates, networking opportunities, The Psychologist magazine, and a range of professional resources. Guidance is available to help individuals choose the most appropriate membership option.

For A-level students, e-subscriptions at £18 per year provide access to psychology content, careers information and wider subject engagement. These can be particularly helpful when students are thinking about next steps after sixth form or college. It can also help schools achieve Gatsby Benchmarks in careers education.

Members of the BPS are also encouraged to consider getting involved with SCoPESC in future recruitment rounds. It’s a chance to contribute directly to shaping psychology education at a national level.

I look forward to supporting you and working with you to build a more inclusive and enriching BPS.

Jake Eagleton-Mitchell CPsychol, AFBPsS
Chair of SCoPESC and Head of Social Science

We also provide centre-based training opportunities. If this is something you would like to explore, please visit our training page below.

• Go to the training page to explore centre-based training options

The reports from our Principle Examiners on each of the May/June series exams are now available. These contain general feedback on what students generally did well, and on what they found challenging, as well as insights into each individual question. Example responses with the marks awarded and commentary make these reports particularly useful for teachers and students preparing for future exams. The most recent reports (along with the papers and mark schemes) are locked for teachers with Edexcel Online logins. If you teach at a Pearson Edexcel centre and don't currently have a login, your Exams Officer can set one up for you.

Examiner reports are first uploaded to ResultsPlus (on Results Day) and shortly after are added to the Exam Materials page for each qualification - see below for links.

No - while we continue to work on plans for updating and improving our specificaitons, no changes have been made for new cohorts starting in September 2026.

The increase in timing for UK A Level Psychology papers 1 and 2 (an additional 15 minutes, to 2 hours 15 minutes) which took effect for the May/June 2026 exam series will continue, but no other changes to exam timing have been confirmed.

Our IAL Psychology specification was amended in November 2024 for first assessment in January 2026 (optionality added for the psychodynamic approach and a broader Issues and Debates focus for an 8 mark question on the unit 3 exam).