Physical Education

What will I study in Year 12?

You will extend your existing knowledge in areas including anatomy and physiology, skill acquisition, sport and society.

Anatomy & Physiology

You will develop knowledge and understanding of the changes within the body prior to exercise, during differing intensities and during recovery.

You should understand the relationship between the cardiovascular and respiratory systems and how changes within these systems prior to exercise, during exercise of differing intensities and during recovery allow the body to meet the demands of exercise. You should also understand how taking part in physical activity and sport, as part of a healthy lifestyle can have a positive effect on these systems.

You should understand the relationship between the nervous and muscular systems and how changes and how changes within these systems prior to exercise, during exercise of differing intensities and during recovery allow the body to meet the demands of exercise.

You should understand the relationship between the muscular and skeletal systems to meet the demands of exercise. You should be able to apply your knowledge to specific sporting actions in a range of activities.

Skill acquisition

You will focus on how skills are acquired and the impact of psychological factors on performance. You will develop knowledge and understanding of the principles required to optimise learning of new, and the development of existing skills in a range of physical activities.

Sport and Society

You should develop knowledge and understanding of the interaction  between, and the evolution of, sport and society.

You develop an understanding of popular and rational recreation leading to the emergence of modern sport through to globalisation of sport in the 21st century. You will be introduced to key terms and concepts and benefits of physical activity to both the individual and society.

What will I study in year 13?

You will extend your existing knowledge in areas including exercise physiology, psychology and biomechanical movement.

Exercise Physiology

You should develop knowledge and understanding of energy systems  prior to exercise, during exercise of differing intensities and during recovery.

You should understand the adaptations to the body systems through training or lifestyle and how these changes affect the efficiency of those systems.

Biomechanical movement

You should develop knowledge and understanding of motion and forces, and their relevance to performance in physical activity and sport. You should have knowledge of biomechanical definitions, equations, formulae and units of measurement and demonstrate the ability to plot, label and interpret biomechanical graphs and diagrams.

Sports psychology

You will develop knowledge and understanding of the role of sport psychology in optimising performance in physical activity and sport. You should be able to understand and interpret graphical representations associated with sport psychology theories.

Sport and society and the role of technology in physical activity

You should develop knowledge and understanding of the interaction  between, and the evolution of, sport and society and the technological developments in physical activity and sport.

How will I be assessed?

The A Level will be assessed by means of: 

• 2 written papers, each 2 hours long—35% each.

• Practical performance plus written/verbal analysis of performance—30 %

All questions will be compulsory and will be a mix of styles, from multiple choice, short answer, and extended writing.

The Exam Board is AQA. Here is alink to the full specification.