Physical Education

Year 7

Year 8

Year 9

GCSE Physical Education

Course overview

AQA GCSE PE should not be confused with Core PE which is compulsory for all of you. In Core PE the emphasis is on playing practical sports until the end of Year 11. GCSE PE is a theory – based course with a practical element. Therefore, in Year 10 you will spend an equal amount of time learning theory and practical. In Year 11 all lessons will be theory.

You should play sport on a regular basis at school and outside of school to secure a good grade in the written coursework and practical elements of the course.

Course content

You will submit three sports to the exam board. These must be either two team sports and one individual or one team sport and two individual sports. You can use sports played outside of school but you will need to provide video evidence in a competitive situation. If the sport is not on the specification it can’t be used. Team sports are: Basketball, Cricket, Football, Handball, Hockey, Ice Hockey, Inline Roller Hockey, Lacrosse, Netball, Rowing, Rugby League, Rugby Union, Volleyball and Water Polo.

Individual sports are: Amateur Boxing, Athletics, Badminton, Canoeing/Kayaking, Cycling (track, road or BMX (racing, not tricks), Dance, Diving, Equestrian, Figure Skating, Golf, Gymnastics, Rock Climbing, Sailing, Skiing, Snowboarding, Squash, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, trampolining and Windsurfing

Exam board and Exam structure

Paper	Content	Marks available	Exam board
Paper 1 1 hour 15 mins	Anatomy and physiology in Sport, Movement analysis in Sport, Physical training in Sport, use of data in Sport	78 marks – 30%	AQA
Paper 2 1 hour 15 mins	Sports psychology, Socio-cultural influences in Sport, Health, Fitness and Wellbeing in Sport	78 marks – 30%
Written Coursework Teacher Assessed – AQA moderation	Analysis of Performance in Sport	25 marks – 10%
Practical Performance Teacher Assessed – AQA moderation	Role of the player/performer in individual and team sports	25 marks per sport 10% per sport 30% in total

Cambridge National Sport Studies Level 1 / 2

Sport Studies Specification

Course overview

Cambridge National Sport Studies will encourage students to think for themselves about the study of sport and the application to real life practical sport, leadership and evaluation of the skills required there. They will study topics affecting sport through the contemporary issues unit, both play and lead sporting activities, as well as having the chance to either explore the world of outdoor sport or the media.

You may be interested in this if you want an engaging qualification where you will use your learning in practical, real-life situations, such as: 

Understanding contemporary issues in sport and how they impact on different sporting activities. 
Applying your skills as both a performer in two different sporting activities and as a leader in one sporting activity. 
How to be a sports leader, through using your initiative to solve problems and making decisions when dealing with rapidly changing conditions and situations.
Applying your skills to participate in an outdoor and adventurous activity in a natural setting and environment

Content overview (two mandatory units and one optional)

R184: Contemporary Issues in Sport: This is assessed by an exam by completing this unit you will understand a range of topical and contemporary issues in sport, including learning about participation levels and barriers to completing sporting activities. You will also learn how participation is impacted by the promotion of values and ethical behaviour, about the role of high-profile sporting events, the role of national governing bodies and how technology is used in within sport.

Topics include: 

Issues which affect participation in sport 
The role of sport in promoting values 
The implications of hosting a major sporting event for a city or country 
The role National Governing Bodies (NGBs) play in the development of their sport. 
The use of technology in sport.

R185: Performance and leadership in sports activities: This is assessed by a set assignment in this unit you will have an opportunity to develop your skills both as a performer in two different sporting activities, and as a leader, developing a range of transferable skills. You will work both independently and as part of a team, including communicating with team mates as well as being in front of an audience when you perform. You will perform under pressure, both as a participant and as a leader, and will use your initiative to solve problems and make decisions. Finally, you will deal with rapidly changing conditions and situations. 

Topics include:

Key components of performance 
Applying practice methods to support improvement in a sporting activity 
Organising and planning a sports activity session 
Leading a sports activity session 
Reviewing your own performance in planning and leading a sports activity session

The two optional units are:

R186: Sports and the media
R187: Increasing awareness of Outdoor and Adventurous Activities

Exam Structure

Of the two mandatory units, R184: Contemporary Issues in Sport is assessed by a 1hr 15min external examination. This exam can be taken in January or June of Year 11. If you fail the exam in January, you will resit in June. If you pass the exam in January, but wish to try for a higher grade, you can complete the exam again in June. The exam board will use the most recent exam grade, NOT the highest exam grade if you choose to sit it twice.

The other mandatory unit, R185: Performance and leadership in sports activities is internally assed through practical activities and coursework. This is the same as the optional unit.