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Physical Education

What do we cover in this subject?

A Level PE helps you understand how the body and mind work in sport, how society affects sport, and how to improve performance. Here’s what you’ll study:

Component 1: Physical Factors Affecting Performance

You’ll learn about how your body systems (like the muscles and heart) respond to exercise and diet. You’ll also explore how movement and forces affect your performance in sport. Topics include:

  • How the body works in sport (Anatomy & Physiology)

  • How the body trains and recovers (Exercise Physiology)

  • How movement works (Biomechanics)

Component 2: Psychological Factors Affecting Performance

This part looks at how people learn sports skills and how the mind affects performance. You'll also learn how motivation, pressure, and leadership affect team sports. Topics include:

  • How we learn sports skills (Skill Acquisition)

  • The role of the mind in sport (Sports Psychology)

Component 3: Social and Cultural Issues in Sport

You’ll look at how sport has changed over time and what influences it today, including the media, technology, and big events like the Olympics. Topics include:

  • How society has shaped sport (Sport and Society)

  • Modern-day issues in sport (Contemporary Issues)

Component 4: Performance in Physical Education

You’ll be assessed as either a player or a coach in one sport. You’ll also watch a performance (live or on video), then analyse it and suggest how it could be improved. Assessment includes:

  • Your own performance in a sport

  • A task where you evaluate someone else’s performance

 

How is this subject taught?

You’ll learn through a mix of classroom lessons and practical activities. There’ll be chances to use videos, sports clips, and technology to see how the theory applies to real sport.

You will be assesed through - 

  • One practical performance (as a player or coach)

  • One performance analysis task

  • Three exam papers (two are 1 hour long, one is 2 hours) questions will range from short answers to longer written responses.

 

What are the enrichment opportunities in this subject?

 There are several exciting extra opportunities in A Level PE to help you learn beyond the classroom. You’ll hear from a guest speaker who is a sports psychologist. There are also trips, including a visit to a physiotherapist where you’ll learn about treating sports injuries, and the chance to attend a professional sports event like The Open Golf Championship. To support your learning, you can also take part in a dedicated A Level PE revision seminar to help you prepare for your exams.

 

Where does this subjexct lead to after Sixth Form?

This course helps improve your understanding of how to perform better in sport. It’s also a great foundation if you want to study sport at university. Careers you might go into include: Physiotherapy, Coaching, Sports Science, Sports Psychology, PE Teaching, Sports Analysis and Sports Development.