Physical Education

A GCSE in Physical Education will equip you with the knowledge, understanding, skills and values you need to be able to develop and maintain your performance in physical activities. You will also gain understanding of how physical activities benefit health, fitness and well-being. Sport plays a huge role today’s society, contributing approximately £39 billion to the UK's economy each year. You will explore how sport has become commercialised over time and the role sponsorship, media and technology has played in this.

Is GCSE PE for me?

We are looking for students who are passionate about PE and have a keen interest in learning more about both the theoretical and practical side of the subject. To be successful on the course, you should enjoy watching a range of sports and take a keen interest in current sports affairs as this will help to develop your understanding of key topics studied. It is essential for those considering this subject that they regularly attend PE after-school clubs and play sport outside of school. Competing at club level in at least one of your chosen sports is advantageous and strongly recommended.

What will I learn?

Theory content:

You will have two theory lessons a week and will cover six topics over two years.

Paper 1: The human body and movement in physical activity and sport

1. Applied anatomy and physiology

The structure and function of the musculo-skeletal and cardio-respiratory systems

2. Movement analysis

Lever systems, planes and axes of movement

3, Physical training

Health, fitness; components of fitness; principles of training; optimise training and prevent injury; warm up and cool down.

Paper 2. Socio-cultural influences and well-being in physical activity and sport

4. Sports Psychology

Goal setting; SMART targets; basic information processing; guidance and feedback; mental preparation

5. Socio –cultural influences

Engagement patterns, commercialisation, ethical and socio-cultural issues in physical activity and sport

6. Health, fitness, and well-being

The consequences of sedentary lifestyle; energy use, diet, nutrition and hydration

Non-Exam Assessment (NEA):

GCSE PE gives you exciting opportunities to be involved in several different sports, but it

does require you to develop your ability and aptitude in physical activities, demonstrating

appropriate skills and techniques for each sport – therefore a good level of physical fitness

and a competent skill level are crucial to your success on the course.

You will be assessed in three sports as a player or performer. One must be in a team sport; one must be in an individual sport and the third can be either a team or an individual sport or activity. You can only be assessed in activities listed in the specification.

Team activities: Association football, badminton, basketball, camogie, cricket, dance, gaelic football, handball, hockey, hurling, lacrosse, netball, rowing, rugby league, rugby union, squash, table tennis, tennis, volleyball.

Individual activities: Amateur boxing, athletics, badminton, canoeing, cycling, dance, diving, golf, gymnastics, equestrians, kayaking, rock climbing, rowing, sculling, skiing, snowboarding, squash, swimming, table tennis, tennis, trampolining.

Each sport is marked out of 25 and is worth 10% of your overall grade and activity. For each you are assessed in:

Skills (10 marks per activity)

Full context/competition (15 marks per activity)

In addition to your practical assessment, you are required to complete a written piece of coursework which requires you to analyse and evaluate your performance in one of your chosen sports. This is worth 10% of you overall grade.

How will I be assessed?

This qualification is linear. Linear means that you will sit all your exams and submit all your non-exam assessment at the end of Year 11.

Paper 1 exam: - Written examination: 1hour 15 minutes (30%)

Non-Exam Assessment (NEA): This is moderated firstly by your PE teacher within your practical lessons. It will then be moderated by the Head of PE or another member of the PE Department. Then in Year 11 an AQA external moderator will visit the school for the final moderation. (40%)

See Miss Mulhern for more information.

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