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Physical Education (GCSE)

The GCSE Physical Education course is an engaging qualification that combines both theoretical and practical elements of sport and physical activity. The course is split 70% theory and 30% practical and it provides students with the opportunity to develop their knowledge and understanding of the factors that underpin performance, whilst also enhancing their own practical abilities across a range of physical activities. Learners will gain a deeper understanding of how physical activity contributes to health, fitness and wellbeing, and how physiological, psychological and socio-cultural factors can influence participation and performance in sport. Through practical performance, analysis and evaluation, students will develop their skills, techniques, tactics and strategies, enabling them to improve their own sporting performance. The course encourages learners to become knowledgeable, confident and reflective performers who understand the value of physical activity and sport in leading a healthy and active lifestyle. The course consists of four components:

  • Component 1 - Fitness and Body Systems: This component assesses students’ knowledge and understanding of the factors underpinning physical activity and sport performance. Students will cover content related to applied anatomy and physiology, movement analysis, physical training and the use of data. This will be applied to

  • Component 2 - Health and Performance: This component assesses students’ knowledge and understanding of the factors underpinning participation and performance in physical activity and sport. Students will cover content related to health, fitness and well-being, sports psychology and socio-cultural influences.

  • Component 3 - Practical Performance: The component assesses students’ skills in a range of practical performances across three sporting activities, these must be across both team and individual sports.

  • Component 4 – Personal Exercise Programme: This component assesses students’ skills in analysing and evaluating performance through a personal exercise programme (PEP) in order to improve/optimise performance in a chosen physical activity. Students will develop knowledge and understanding of the principles of training, relevant methods of training and use of data in order to analyse and evaluate their PEP.

HOW STUDENTS WILL STUDY

Students will learn in both a classroom and practical environment. They will use a range of different learning styles to ensure they are fully engaged in the theoretical aspects of the course.

Students will have the opportunity to learn and develop both new and existing sporting skills in a variety of physical activities. It is essential that students have a commitment to a team or individual sporting activity both in and out of school.

DEPARTMENT STRENGTHS AND RESOURCES

The department is extremely well resourced and the course is taught by experienced and well qualified staff. The course has been planned and resourced internally to support you to maximise your learning opportunities to enhance your progress in the course. You will also have the opportunity to develop experience and knowledge through further sports opportunities outside of lesson hours. The practical spaces and fitness studio which are available to use are well equipped in order to support you with practical elements of the course.

HOW STUDENTS WILL BE ASSESSED

Component 1: Fitness and Body Systems (36% of qualification) – Written exam, 1 hour 30 minutes, 80 marks.

Component 2: Health and Performance (24% of qualification) – Written exam, 1 hour 15 minutes, 60 marks,

Component 3: Practical Performance (30% of qualification) – Internal assessment in 3 sporting activities from the exam board approved list. This will be through either live assessment or through submitted video evidence for sports not offered in school. Practical performance will then be externally moderated in year 11 by the exam board.

Component 4: Personal Exercise Programme (10% of qualification): Written NEA coursework task of 1500 words excluding appendix. Internally assessed and externally moderated.

PROGRESSION ROUTES

This qualification is primarily designed to support progression to further education courses such as A Level PE or Applied Courses. These courses could lead to degrees in:

  • Sports Science

  • Teaching/Coaching

  • Sports Psychology

  • Physiotherapy

  • Sports research

  • Nutrition

More info:

Head of Department:

Mr A Blakeway – Head of PE ablakeway@hswv.co.uk

Student Quote:

‘GCSE PE studies caters for everyone and is adapted to give you the best outcome’.

‘The theory lessons are enjoyable and interesting’.

‘You get a greater understanding of the sports you enjoy’.