RVHS Pathways to Success, 2024

Course Summary

If you choose PE we will decide which course is best suited for you, so that you can achieve the highest grade possible. The GCSE PE course is more suited to pupils who are very good practically, scientifically and good with exams. The Sports Studies course is more suited to pupils who are better at doing coursework than examinations. Both courses are very similar and they are worth the same as any other GCSE.

This course builds on the knowledge, understanding and skills established in Key Stage 3 Physical Education. It will give you exciting opportunities to be involved in a number of different physical activities, promoting an active and healthy lifestyle. You should have an interest in physical education and sport, enjoy being active and appreciate the benefits of keeping fit and healthy. The GCSE PE subject will help with your Science levels as a lot of the things learnt are the same.

Course Assessment

Component 1: Physical Factors Affecting Performance - Students explore how parts of the human body function during physical activity and the physiological adaptations that can occur due to diet and training. They also develop skills in data analysis, and an understanding of the principles of training, why we train in different ways and how training plans can be made to optimise results. There are two topics:
- - Applied anatomy and physiology
  - Physical training.

Physical factors affecting performance (01)

60marks
1 hour
30%

Component 2: Socio-Cultural Issues and Sports Psychology - Students develop their knowledge of the social-cultural and psychological influences on levels of participation in sport, and also how sport impacts on society more broadly. This includes the individual benefits to health, fitness and well-being of participating in physical activity, as well as the influences of commercialisation, sponsorship and the media.

There are three topics:

Socio-cultural influences
Sports psychology
Health, fitness and well-being.

Socio-Cultural Issues and Sports Psychology (02)

60marks
1 hour
30%

Component 3: Performance in Physical Education - Students are assessed in performing three practical activities and one performance analysis task. In the practical performance, they demonstrate effective performance, the use of tactics or techniques and the ability to observe the rules and conventions under applied conditions. They are also required to demonstrate their ability to analyse and evaluate their own performance to produce an action plan for improvement.

Performance in Physical Education (03)

60 marks
30%
Non-exam assessment.

Component 4: Analysis and Evaluation of Performance - Students are assessed on the knowledge, understanding and skills they have learnt to analyse and evaluate their own performance in one activity. The assessment consists of a written coursework task that must be completed under controlled conditions.

20 marks
10%
Non-exam assessment.

Career Pathways

As well as being the ideal preparation for the A Level Physical Education course, the courses allow for progression to related vocational qualifications, such as BTEC Firsts and Nationals in Sport or Sport and Exercise Sciences. The course develops the transferable skills and key skills that employers are looking for and can lead to a wide variety of employment opportunities. This can include further training in areas such as recreational management, leisure activities, coaching, officiating, the fitness industry, the armed forces and the Civil Service. Any KS5 Science courses will look favorably on a GCSE PE qualification. Any college / university course as it will likely to be one of your highest grades.

Staff Contact

Mr Allen - Head of Department, please click here to send an email.

Sport options

To the left is a slide version of the break down of both GCSE PE and Sport Studies courses run by the PE Department.