GCSE PE (Sports Science)

Over the three years, you will cover a wide variety of topics both practically and theoretically to make up the syllabus.  You will learn about health and fitness for sport and exercise, training principles for improving fitness, the body’s adaptations to exercise and long term effects, sports psychology, the analytical process for improving a sporting performance and the use of data to improve performance.

You will have five learning sessions per cycle in Cohorts 9, 10 and 11, four of which are a classroom based theory sessions and one which will be practical. When appropriate ‘theory in practice’ lessons will take place. These sessions will be designed to build on the theory covered in previous learning sessions and may cover things such as fitness testing and training, use of data, analysing sports performances.  The practical sessions will develop sports specific skills in a variety of sports.

If you have a genuine love for sport and want to expand your theoretical knowledge then PE is for you.  The course is not an extension of core PE and is very different to the PE sessions that you will have had experience of in Cohorts 7 and 8.

We will cover key theoretical modules every half term and you will be expected to apply your knowledge to exam style questions throughout.  This will form the basis of the theoretical knowledge required to sit your final exam in Cohort 11.

The focus in practical lessons will be the development and mastery of skills and how to implement those skills to be successful. Practical and theory assessments will be completed throughout the year.

a) Two theory papers:

• Component 1 The Human Body and Movement (1 hr 15 mins) – 30%

• Component 2 Sociocultural Influences and Wellbeing (1 hr 15 mins) – 30%

b) Practical Performance in 3 sports – 30%

c) Analysis of Performance (written) - 10%    

GCSE PE will be assessed as follows:

• Two GCSE written exam papers – (60%)

• Two-day Practical Exam – moderated (30%)

• Analysis of Performance - written assessment (10%)

For the practical side of the course, you choose three sports in which to be assessed in Cohort 11.  The three sports chosen by the learners must include one individual sport and one team sport.

The chosen sports must be recognised by the exam board in order for you to be assessed.  Anyone participating in obscure, minority sports should check the availability of their sport with the PE subject team prior to taking up the course.  Sports which are unable to be taken in school but are recognised by the exam board can be chosen and video evidence must be provided in order to be assessed e.g. horse riding, skiing etc.

Please note rounders, fitness and all martial arts are currently not permitted. However, Futsal was recently added but may not be taken in conjunction with football. Cross country running has also been added but forms part of the athletics assessment.

There are many career opportunities in sport and recreation including physiotherapy, sports medicine, sports science, nutrition, sports psychology, sports centre management, sports therapy and sports coaching.

Any science related courses/careers will benefit from the biological topics within PE A-level.

Mrs Jones, Subject Leader for PE (fjones@honywoodschool.com)