Our year 13 psychology learners have begun an exciting Employer-Led Project exploring public perception of police in the UK - delving into the curriculum topic of authority and aggression. Guided by Dr. Jolanta, a Senior Social Researcher at the Home Office, our learners will gain valuable insights into this topic from a real-world context.
As a Senior Social Researcher, Jolanta manages government projects and collaborates with multidisciplinary teams both within and outside the Home Office. Her role involves providing policy reports and evidence-based recommendations which puts into practise the topics studied on the AQA A level psychology course.
The session kicked off with an engaging overview of Jolanta’s job role and the significance of research in her daily responsibilities. Learners then delved into thought-provoking questions about their perceptions of the police and policing in the UK, sparking lively debates on these crucial matters, especially relevant to young people living in London.
Jolanta launched the project with the research question ‘How can we improve public perception of the police in the UK?" Learners now have 6-8 weeks to complete this project, and Dr. Gola discussed various intriguing ways for them to present their findings, including creating documentaries, delivering presentations, and conducting interviews.
Dr. Gola encouraged the students to consider specific angles as they explore this topic further: the role of authority and its implementation, the impact of policing in the community versus online, issues of police diversity, the presence of the police in the community, strategies for tackling crime, and measures for protecting the public.
Psychology learner Manahil shared ‘This ELP is an exceptional opportunity that was given to us by The Home Office that will help us understand human behaviour on an even deeper level.’
Thanks to Dr. Jolanta Gola for providing this exceptional opportunity to our learners and for continued support of psychology at LDE UTC having worked with our learners several times.
