Introduction to the subject

GCSE Physical Education gives you the opportunity to learn about how the body and mind works in relation to sport and physical activity as well as the role of sport within our society. To successfully obtain a GCSE in Physical Education, you have to work hard at both the theoretical and practical elements of the course.

What will you learn?

Theory Units - worth 60% of the overall grade:

• Applied anatomy and physiology

• Movement analysis

• Physical training

• Health, fitness and well-being

• Sports psychology

• Socio-cultural influences

Practical - worth 30% of overall grade:

You must be assessed as a performer in three different activities. One of which must be a team activity, one must be an individual activity and the third can be from either category.

Coursework - Personal Exercise Programme (PEP) - worth 10% of the overall grade:

Students will be required to assess and analyse their own personal fitness and evaluate the impact their fitness has on their performance in a chosen activity. Students must then plan and carry out a six-week training programme to improve a selected area of their fitness in order to improve their performance. Students are then assessed on their ability to evaluate the process that they have carried out.

After the course

This course gives students who wish to study Physical Education at a higher level a great opportunity to cover a wide range of topics in depth. Therefore, it is highly recommended that students wishing to study Physical Education at A Level or degree level should choose GCSE Physical Education as an option.

Previous students who have obtained the GCSE PE qualification have gone on to a range of jobs including:

• Teaching

• Sports scientist

• Physiotherapist

• Sports coach

• Sports development officer

• Personal trainer

• Sports psychologist

• Sports analyst

• Sports journalist

• Cardiologist

• Nutritionist