Physical Education (OCR

Entry Requirements

A keen interest in playing sport and the physiological, psychological and sociological components that contribute to sporting performance are essential. You will be required to have at least a Grade 6 in GCSE Physical Education. In the instance that you have not taken Physical Education for GCSE, you will be required to have a Grade 6 in GCSE Biology or a 6/6 in Double Award Science (with a minimum of a Grade 6 in the Biology module).

This course has a practical component, where sports performance will be assessed. A second requirement is that you aspire to perform at a high level in one sport, for example at A team level or equivalent.

Physical Education at Berkhamsted

This is a practical and engaging course, where the content has been designed to allow you to study Physical Education in a theoretical setting. It enables you to critically analyse and evaluate your own physical performance and apply this in developing your knowledge and understanding of the subject. Opportunities to utilise practical experiences to link with the theoretical content of the course are numerous.

Course Content:

You will sit three theory exams at the end of the A Level course, worth 70% of your overall grade. The remaining 30% of your grade will be assessed practically throughout the duration of the course.

Content Overview Assessment Overview Assessment Value

Physiological factors affecting performance

Psychological factors affecting performance Exam paper: • 90 marks • 2 hour written paper

Exam paper: • 60 marks • 1 hour written paper Socio-cultural issues in physical activity and sport Exam paper: • 60 marks • 1 hour written paper

Performance in physical education: • Performance in sport • Evaluation and Analysis of performance in sport coursework Non-examined assessment: • 60 marks • Assessment of sporting ability • Coursework task 30% of total A Level

20% of total A Level

20% of total A Level

30% of total A Level

Trips and Visits

You will have the opportunity to visit iconic sporting venues, including Twickenham, Lords and Wimbledon as part of the History of Sport topic covered in Year 12. In Year 13 you will visit a major sporting university, the trip will encompass sports physiology, lab testing and sports psychology.

Future Prospects

Physical Education is an increasingly popular subject, with many of the skills gained through the course being applicable to many other subjects. The subject lends itself to a rich tapestry of university courses and careers, including sports science, teaching, sports business and management, physiotherapy, sports journalism, the armed forces, marketing and sales, sports psychology, strength and conditioning, sports coaching, event management and sports analytics..

Student Comments

The course puts a totally different perspective on sport; I can now relate sporting theories to my own performance.

I really enjoy thinking about the physiological and psychological processes in my own performances and how that can lead to improvements.