A Level Physical Education

Name of course

Physical Education

Course Entry Requirements

To study Physical Education you must have a Grade 5 GCSE Physical Education OR Grade 6 in GCSE Biology/GCSE Combined Science.

To study Physical Education it is advised that you compete in a sport outside of school regularly.

Please note: We are not offering PE at A level

Why PE?

Studying A level PE will:

Give you a fantastic insight into the amazing world of sports performance. Not only will you have the chance to perform or coach a sport through the non-exam assessment component you will develop a wide ranging knowledge into the how and why of physical activity and sport, linking key sporting ideas with practical performance and gaining insight into the relationships they have with each other.

Physical Eduction is studied through a range of different contexts and the impact it has on both ours and others everyday lives. You will learn the reasons why we do things, why some people outperform others, mentally and physically. You will also delve into the ethical considerations behind the use of drugs and also the influence that modern technology is having in and on physical activity and sport.

Develop a range of transferable skills including: decision making, psychological understanding of people, problem solving and analytical skills as well as acting and thinking under pressure.

Course Content

Unit 1 Physiological Factors Affecting Performance (30%)

Applied Anatomy and Physiology
Exercise Physiology
Biomechanics

Unit 2 Psychological Factors Affecting Performance (20%)

Skill Acquisition
Sports Psychology

Unit 3 Socio-Cultural Issues in Physical Activity and Sport (20%)

Sport and Society
Contemporary Issues in Physical Activity and Sport

Unit 4 Performance in Physical Education (30%)

Performance or Coaching
Evaluation and Analysis of Performance for Improvement

Where could this course lead to?

The subject of A Level PE is an excellent base for a university degree in sports science, sports management, healthcare, or exercise and health. It also consists of a broad range of topics and therefore, can complement further study in biology, physics, psychology, nutrition, sociology and many more.

It is a subject that can lead onto many career options including: sports development, coaching, physiotherapy, personal training and professional studies (teaching).

Books:

PE for A level Year 1/PE for A level Year 2, John Honeybourne & Sarah Powell, Hodder
Pocket Atlas of the Moving Body, Mel Cash
How Bad Do You Want It? , Matt Fitzgerald
Bounce, Matthew Syed
Soccernomics, Simon Kuper & Stefan Szymanski
The Sports Gene, David Epstein
No Limits The Will to Succeed, Michael Phelps
The Greatest, Matthew Syed