Physical Education

Fourth Form

In the fourth form pupils have the opportunity of experiencing PE and Sports Science as part of a creative arts carousel. They will spend six weeks covering a range of topics in eachg of these two areas, investigating training and performance and the science of sport.

Physical Education
Through a variety of sports and games, pupils learn about the key skills and strategies that underpin all sports performance. Health and fitness also plays a part in this course, learning about the different methods of training and how to be healthy.

Sport Science
Within this course, pupils investigate the areas that underpin sports performance including; nutrition, hydration, training zones, fitness testing, biomechanics and sports psychology. 

GCSE Physical Education (AQA)

This two year course consists of a practical assessment in four sports/activities (60%) alongside an examination in the theory that underpins sport (40%).

Practical

Candidates are assessed in their four strongest sports/activities in term of technique, performance and tactical and rule-bound knowledge. Example assessment sports include:

Rugby, netball, hockey,football, competitive swimming, survival swimming, cricket, dance, athletics, gymnastics, horse-riding, karate, skiing, basketball, rounders, squash,
badminton - to name a few!

GCSE students also have the opportunity to learn how to coach and officiate their sport, as well as how to plan, perform and evaluate a 6 week circuit training programme.  

Theory

An introduction to the main areas of Physical Education & Sports Science; Psychology, Anatomy & Physiology, History of Sport, Movement Analysis, Contemporary Issues, Health & Nutrition and Skill Acquisition. Example topics:

Health, fitness and factors affecting performance/muscular, respiratory and circulatory systems, energy systems, training methods, components of fitness, drugs, smoking, alcohol, age. Psychological factors that affect performance, tension, anxiety, aggression,
feedback, open and closed skills. Technological developments, warm up and warm downs, specific safety implications for individual sports, first aid.

The written paper consists of 3 parts:

• Multiple Choice
• Short Answer Questions
• Extended answers based on a scenario issued prior to the
  examination

           

Course content
Lower 5th	Michaelmas	Practical: Circuit training/Training methods Academic element: Health, fitness and factors affecting performance/muscular, respiratory and circulatory systems.
	Lent	Practical: Swimming (Competitve and Survival) Academic element:  Energy systems, training methods, components of fitness, drugs, smoking, alcohol, age. Psychological factors that affect performance, tension, anxiety, aggression, feedback, open and closed skills.
	Summer	Practical: Tennis/Cricket/Rounders  Academic element: Technological developments, warm up and warm downs, specific safety implications for individual sports, first aid.
Upper 5th	Michaelmas	Practical: Sports Coaching Academic element: Sports experiments are used to find out how the body works and reacts to sport & exercise. Factors affecting individual performance and participation, schools, changing attitudes, leisure time, facilities. Social and cultural factors affecting participation: sponsorship, media, governing bodies, major sports events, Olympics.
	Lent	Practical:  Games (rugby, football, netball, hockey etc) Academic element: Revision for exam.
	Summer	Practical: Theory intop practice Academic element: Revision & Exam

 

This course leads on well to the AS and A2 Sports Science awards and the continuation to read degrees in Sport & Exercise Science, Sports Psychology, Sports Nutrition and other academic disciplines.