Physical Education

The business of sport is a major part of our modern lives: we all play, watch or talk about sport.  How has it come to be our obsession?

Course content

Factors affecting participation in physical activity and sport:
You will learn about various factors that influence sports participation such as how the body’s systems impact on and can be trained for performance.  You will develop an understanding of how to maximise learning and performance through understanding different theoretical perspectives of learning and skill development.  You will learn about and discuss how sport has grown into a commercial business worth millions, as well as the role different providers of sport and physical activity play in ensuring sport and physical activity is fit for the 21st Century.

Factors affecting optimal performance in physical activity and sport:
You will learn how athletes plan and prepare for competition through developing an enhanced knowledge of training methods, dietary requirements and biomechanical analysis to maximise and analyse performance.  You will learn how athletes mentally prepare for competition; controlling arousal and anxiety as well as taking an in-depth look at ethical problems facing modern day sport and its performers, such as the taking of performance enhancing drugs and methods of controlling spectator violence.

Non- exam content:
You will be assessed as a performer or coach in one sporting activity, from a pre-approved list of activities and then analyse your performance showing application of knowledge and understanding of factors that influence performance.

Assessment (Exam Board – AQA)
Assessment of the course is made up of two components: practical demonstration of skills, tactics as a performer or coach as well as application of theoretical understanding through two examinations.

70% Theoretical content assessed through 2 exams:

• Paper 1– Factors affecting participation in physical activity and sport  (2 hour exam = 35%)
• Paper 2– Factors affecting optimal performance in physical activity and sport  (2 hour exam = 35%)

30% Non-exam content- assessed through practical performance as a performer or coach as well as written/ verbal evaluation of performance.

Entry Requirements:
7 Higher Grades:

• Grade 4 (or above) for English and Maths
• Grade 4 (or above) for other GCSE subjects
• 1 BTEC (or equivalent) at Merit (or above) may be included within the 7 grades