Higher Physical Education

DURATION

1 full year / 240 hours

COURSEWORK

50% of award from 2 performances

EXAM

50% of award from Question Paper

COST

NA

What will you learn?

The course consists of two elements in which pupils are assessed in order to achieve a course award:

Performance

Aims:

  • Develop a range of movement skills and/or physical fitness in activities

  • Develop consistency in their control, fluency of movement body and spatial awareness

  • Learn how to work as part of a team or individually in order to achieve a goal as well as developing managing their emotions in challenging performance contexts

Activities will include a range of individual and team activities based on the interests of the pupils within the classes.

Factors that Impact on Performance

Learners will develop their knowledge and understanding of the impact of factors on performance, the methods used to investigate these factors, the approaches used to develop these factors and the importance and means of monitoring these factors. Pupils will be given the opportunity to develop their performance in a range of different activities. They will look to develop their understanding of the principles of training and their application to their own performance in order to improve:

The factors explored are:

  • Mental factors

  • Social factors

  • Emotional factors

  • Physical factors

Why do this course?

The course enables candidates to demonstrate and develop a broad and comprehensive range of complex skills in challenging contexts in physical activities. Candidates demonstrate initiative, decision making and problem solving by engaging in physical activities. Candidates develop the ability to use strategies to make appropriate decisions for effective performance. These strategies will be based on an analysis and understanding of the impact of mental, emotional, social and physical factors on performance. The course supports the way that individual attitudes, values and behaviours are formed by participating in physical education. The skills, knowledge and understanding that candidates acquire by successfully completing the course are transferable to learning, to life and to the world of work.

What will you experience?

Pupils will have the opportunity to experience the cycle of analysis in a range of activities. Pupils will analyse their performance before identifying strengths and weaknesses. They will then carry out a training plan to improve their performance and be given the opportunity to retest their performance. Where possible, pupils will have personalisation and choice to participate in the activities most suited to them.

Key Facts

Everything you need to know before selecting this course

Homework

Homework will be set by the class teacher on a regular basis, this will be available on TEAMs. This will link directly to the theory work which underpins the exam content.

Assessment

Knowledge and skills will be assessed in different ways, depending on the topic being studied. This will include practical work and written work including assessed homework. Pupils will undertake peer evaluation of class work and use written tasks and assessment to set achievable short term targets.

National 5 & Higher courses include internal and external assessments (outlined below) and will be graded (A-D)

  • Practical Internal Assessment in two activities 50% (30/30 marks) The performances can be arranged at a time best suited to the student however they usually take place between January - April.

Assessment Areas: Pupils may be assessed in one of the following activities in Higher: Football; Rugby; Hockey; Basketball; Gymnastics; Swimming; Volleyball; Badminton; Tennis; Dance; Table tennis; Trampolining; Diving; Rowing; Indoor track cycling; Athletics. Pupils may be able to be assessed in other activities in negotiation with the PE department and In line with SQA guidelines.

  • Written Assessment Exam 50% (50 marks)

Pupils should bring a full change of kit that is suitable for each activity.

It is expected that pupils participate in an extra-curricular club (within or out with school) in their chosen activities.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Entry is at the discretion of the Principal Teacher Faculty, HWB. However, as a guide:

  • A pass a the previous NQ level. i.e. for Higher, a pass at National 5.

*Entry available with no experience on discussion with Principal Teacher, Faculty.

Progression and Employment

Everything you need to know about future pathways from this course

Progression

NPA Sports Development

Level 7 Football Refereeing

Employment

  • Fitness Instructor

  • Leisure Industry

  • Outdoor Activities Instructor

  • PE Teacher

  • Physiotherapist

  • Sports Coach

  • Sports and Exercise Scientist

  • Sports and Exercise Psychologist

  • Sports Development Officer

Learner Experiences

What I enjoyed most about the the Higher PE course this year is that I have enjoyed learning about the different methods that you need to carry out to receive data on your performance and also learning the approaches to improve your performance as it is interesting and shows you strengths and weaknesses. I have also enjoyed written work as I have learnt a lot more of the theory work in depth compared to N5 and found it interesting. The skills I have developed in Higher PE is structuring skills as I needed to structure theory work answers in a certain way, I also gained more communication skills due to working in teams and partners for most of the methods and approaches to improve on performance. Another skill I have learnt is stronger decision-making skills as playing in teams and working through targets and set goals had me thinking more about what choices I had to make to improve my performance in my chosen sport. I would certainly recommend the Higher PE course as you get to find out much more stuff in depth than the N5 course and it is way more interesting and challenging. This course is a major step up from N5 but is worth it and I found it was a fun and engaging course and also found it was an outlet for stress from other subjects as I would love to do PE and do practical as well as theory.



Higher P.E is a good option as it gives you the opportunity to be physically active. It is also interesting as you find out about your own strengths and weaknesses and think about how to improve them.

It also involves quite a bit of written work and is different to the National 5.