Why Study Physical Education?
A Level physical education encourages students to immerse themselves in the world of sports and PE with the chance to perform or coach a sport. Students will be equipped with both a depth and breadth of knowledge, understanding and skills relating to scientific, socio-cultural and practical aspects of physical education. This requires them to:
- Develop theoretical knowledge and understanding of the factors that underpin physical activity and sport and use this knowledge to improve performance
- Understand how physiological and psychological states affect performance
- Understand the key socio-cultural factors that influence people’s involvement in physical activity and sport
- Understand the role of technology in physical activity and sport
- Refine their ability to perform effectively in physical activity and sport by developing skills and techniques and selecting and using tactics, strategies and/or compositional ideas
- Develop their ability to analyse and evaluate to improve performance
- Understand the contribution which physical activity makes to health and fitness
What does the course consist of?
The preferred choice of board is OCR.
The A Level qualification consists of four modules.
Component 01- Physiological factors affecting performance
2 hour written examination (30% contribution)
Focuses on developing the learner’s knowledge of the science behind physical activity. This includes the structure and function of key systems in the human body, the forces that act upon us and the adaptations we make to our bodies through diet and training regimes.
Component 02- Psychological factors affecting performance
1-hour examination (20% contribution)
Focuses on developing the learners’ knowledge and understanding knowledge of the psychological factors that can affect performers in physical activity and sport.
Component 03- Socio-cultural issues in physical activity and sport
1-hour examination (20% contribution)
This component focuses on the sociological and contemporary issues that influence and affect physical activity and sport for both the audience and the performer and how sport affects society.
Component 04- Performance in physical education
Non-exam assessment (30% contribution)
Learners are internally assessed through the NEA (in one practical activity (either performing or coaching one chosen activity from the approved lists) and the Evaluation and Analysis of Performance for Improvement (EAPI).