Physical Education

Aims

To enhance students’ knowledge and increase their understanding of the factors that affect performance and participation in physical education. To address current contemporary topics in sport such as the impact in the use of ergogenic aids, technology and increasing commercialisation of sport. To equip students with the skills and knowledge required for higher education or the world of work.

Entry requirement Do you have a real interest in sport and can apply biological facts in a sporting context? Do you tend to watch sports programmes, read about sports medicine research, follow athletes’ achievements and take part in sport? Do you have good GCSE passes in the Sciences and preferably GCSE PE? Do you have a very good understanding of a least one sport, as a performer or coach? Are you interested in the history, psychology and social aspects of sport in addition to the physiological aspect (how organs function)? Can you learn a lot of factual material in detail, apply the knowledge and interpret data? Can you communicate information graphically and by written prose? Can you think independently and scientifically, but also utilise numerical skills and analyse source material? If you can answer yes to most of these questions, then A Level Physical Education is for you! Course structure

A Level two-year course

Paper One: Factors affecting participation in physical activity and sport – 35% Section A: Applied Anatomy and physiology Section B: Skill acquisition Section C: Sport and society Written exam: 2 hours; 105 marks Paper Two: Factors affecting optimal performance in physical activity and sport – 35% Section A: Exercise and physiology and biomechanics Section B: Sport psychology Section C: Sport and society and technology in sport Written exam: 2 hours; 105 marks Non-exam assessment: Practical performance in physical activity and sport – 30% Students assessed as a performer or coach in the full-sided version of one activity (15%) plus, written analysis of performance (15%).

Career opportunities

Science subjects, including human biology, psychology and most other A Level subjects go well with A Level Physical Education. It will help you prepare for studying a variety of courses at university like sports science, sport studies, leisure management, teacher training, sports therapy, physiotherapy and many other combinations.