A level Physical Education is a fascinating and very challenging course and will appeal to all those who are interested in sport and exercise and how to improve performance. The course offers students the chance to study many aspects of Physical Education and Sport with the emphasis of the specification being based on the interaction between the theory and practice of sporting principles. The course is mainly theoretical with 65% of the final mark at A Level being exam orientated. The remaining 35% is derived from practical coursework. All students are expected to participate in at least one of their chosen activity areas on a regular basis throughout the year / season. Video evidence of a student’s practical performance and portfolios/video evidence of student’s qualifications and experiences as a coach or official will be required. Students will be expected to spend some of their “free” time improving their practical performance as well as reading and researching and around the subject. There is a great deal of cross curricula linkage with Science (Biology, Physics and Chemistry), Sociology and Psychology.

Practical Activity Groups

Listed below are some of the practical activities available to students. Candidates must choose two activities from two of the following ten different activity categories:

Athletic Activities - Track and Field Athletics, weightlifting, track cycling
Combat Activities - Judo, Boxing, Fencing
Dance Activities - Contemporary, Irish
Invasion Games - Football, Basketball, Hockey, Rugby Union
Netball, Rugby League
Net / Wall Games - Badminton, Squash, Tennis, Volleyball, Table Tennis
Striking / Fielding Games - Cricket, Rounder
Target Games - Golf, Archery
Gymnastic Activities - Gymnastics, Trampolining
Outdoor and Adventurous Activities - Mountain Walking, Sailing, Skiing, Canoeing, Horse riding, Orienteering, Rock Climbing,
Mountain biking
Swimming Activities - Competitive Swimming, Diving.
Safe & Effective Exercise - Circuit Training, Resistance Training, Cardio Training
Career Openings
The leisure / sport / recreation industry is the fastest growing industry in the country worth billions of pounds per year. This is only likely to grow leading up to the London Olympics in 2012. The course specification leads naturally into areas such as Sports Science, Sports Studies, Recreation Management, Sports Therapy, Physiotherapy, Osteopathy and a whole range of employment in Leisure, Tourism, Outdoor Recreation and Teaching.

Skill Acquisition – 20%
Using healthy balanced lifestyles and links to practical examples students will develop a fundamental psychological knowledge of the characteristics of skilful performance, classification of movement skills/abilities and knowledge of the development of skilful performance. From this position students will increasingly link psychological knowledge to performance and learn how individuals and teams develop.

Contemporary Studies in Physical Education – 20%
Students will develop an understanding of the concepts of play, leisure, recreation, sport and physical education. Sport and Culture. Issues surrounding the pursuit of excellence & mass participation including; the role of the media, drugs in sport, the role of sporting agencies, ethical issues, violence and corruption.

Module 2 - Coursework – 40 %
Internally assessed, externally moderated demonstrations of techniques and understanding in conditioned competitive situations in two different practical activity areas or one practical activity area and coaching/leading in a different practical area or one practical activity area and officiating in a different practical area.
Evaluating and planning for improvement of performance in one activity area.

A Level - Year 13
Module 3 – 70% - 2½ hour written exam
Exercise Physiology
Students will apply the following knowledge to improve physical performance and to maintain the health of individuals; Concepts of energy, energy production in the body, effects of exercise upon the body and the recovery process. They will develop their knowledge of the components of fitness and methods of fitness testing as well as studying the principles of training and methods and ethics of performance enhancement.

Historical Studies
How did sports begin and how do they compare to today? Popular recreative activities pre 1800, 19th century public school influences on sporting activities. The development of rational recreative developments in competitive sport, from 1870 onward. The developments in 20th century physical education.

Sports Psychology
Moving on from AS studies students will progress further into the realms of Sports Psychology and its links to performance. You will investigate areas such as personality, attitude, motivation, group / team dynamics, leadership, aggression and audience effects on performance.

Module 4 – Coursework – 30%
Internally assessed, externally moderated effective performance in a competitive situation in one practical activity are or coaching/leading in one practical or officiating one in practical area. Evaluation, appreciation and improvement of performance in one activity area.