Sixth Form Psychology pupils enjoyed a thought-provoking day in London as they visited both the Natural History Museum and the Science Museum to deepen their understanding of human evolution and the treatment of mental illness. The trip brought together both A Level and IB Psychology pupils, and it was really nice to see the whole cohort bonding and learning alongside one another.
The trip began at the Natural History Museum, where they explored the Human Evolution gallery. There, they learned about different species of humans, how our species evolved over time, and even considered the intriguing question of whether they might share characteristics with Neanderthals. The interactive displays and life-sized reconstructions helped bring complex ideas about ancestry and adaptation to life.
In the afternoon, the group headed to the Science Museum for a tour of the Wellcome Medicine galleries. Pupils saw a range of fascinating artefacts linked to the history of mental health treatment, including an MRI scanner, a padded cell and a psychiatrist’s couch. This part of the visit was designed to support their current studies on approaches to diagnosing and treating mental illness.
One of the highlights was the Who Am I? gallery. It was particularly exciting to see the preserved brain of the famous case study H.M., whose memory loss has been central to our understanding of how the brain works. Pupils also listened to interviews with him, adding a personal dimension to the theory they have been studying in class. With a variety of hands-on psychology experiments focusing on memory, learning, and ageing, they experienced research methods first-hand and were able to see how psychological theories are tested in real-world settings.
The visit offered a blend of science, history, and psychology, helping our Sixth Formers connect classroom learning with real artefacts, real people, and real research.
