A Level Physical Education
Entry Requirements: Grade 7 in GCSE Physical Education, a Grade 7 in GCSE Biology is also preferable. Students should have a keen interest in sport and be playing at least one sport at club/regional level.
Exam Board: AQA
Course content:
Learners will have the opportunity to experience and achieve:
- National Governing Body Awards in activities of your choice · Sport Science and nutrition lectures at universities · Volunteering experience · Open day visits to Universities
What units will pupils study? 1 1. Applied anatomy and physiology 2. Skill acquisition 3. Sport and society 4. Exercise physiology 5. Biomechanical movement 6. Sport psychology 7. Sport and society and the role of technology in physical activity and sport
Applied anatomy and physiology: Students develop knowledge and understanding of the changes within the body systems prior to exercise, during exercise of differing intensities and during recovery. Students will be able to interpret data and graphs relating to changes within the musculoskeletal, cardio-respiratory and neuro-muscular systems, and the use of energy systems during different types of physical activity and sport, and the recovery process.
Skill acquisition: This section focuses on how skill is acquired and the impact of psychological factors on performance. Students will develop knowledge and understanding of the principles required to optimise learning of new, and the development of existing, skills. Students will be able to understand and interpret graphical representations associated with skill acquisition theories.
Sport and society: Students will develop knowledge and understanding of the interaction between, and the evolution of, sport and society. Students will be able to understand, interpret and analyse data and graphs relating to participation in physical activity and sport.
Exercise physiology: Students will understand the adaptations to the body systems through training or lifestyle, and how these changes affect the efficiency of that system.
Biomechanical movement: Students will develop knowledge and understanding of motion and forces, and their relevance to performance in physical activity and sport. Students will have a knowledge and use of biomechanical definitions, equations, formulae and units of measurement and demonstrate the ability to plot, label and interpret biomechanical graphs and diagrams.
Sport psychology: In this section students develop knowledge and understanding of the role of sport psychology in optimising performance in physical activity and sport. Students will be able to understand and interpret graphical representations associated with sport psychology theories.
Sport and society and the role of technology in physical activity and sport: Students will develop knowledge and understanding of the interaction between the evolution of, sport and society and the technological developments in physical activity and sport.
Key Skills: As well as covering advanced level study of Physical Education, this course will enable you to develop some key skills, which will be essential to you whatever you go on to do afterwards. The key skills you can develop during this course are: · Communication · Application of number · Working with others · Improving own learning and performance · Problem solving · Analysis and evaluation of factors which improve and optimise performance · Factors affecting the nature and development of performance · Synoptic evaluations.
Assessment
Paper 1 Section A: Applied anatomy and physiology
Section B: Skill acquisition
Section C: Sport and society
How it's assessed: Written exam: 2 hours • 105 marks • 35% of A-level Paper 2: Factors affecting optimal performance in physical activity
Paper 2 Section A: Exercise physiology and biomechanics
Section B: Sport psychology
Section C: Sport and society and technology in sport
How it's assessed: Written exam: 2 hours • 105 marks
35% of A-level Non-exam assessment: Practical in physical activity and sport
A2 Practical How it's assessed: Internal assessment, external moderation • 90 marks • 30% of A-level
Career Value
A Physical Education qualification can lead to further and higher education, careers in the leisure industry, journalism, sponsorship, media, coaching and teaching. Examples of university courses pursued by those who have undertaken AS/AL PE include: · Physiotherapy · Sports Science and Physiology · Physical Education (teaching) · Engineering · Sports Management/Media
