Physical Education

AIMS

The A Level Physical Education course is by its very nature, demanding, challenging yet highly rewarding. It is designed to equip students with both a depth and breadth of knowledge, understanding and skills relating to scientific, socio-cultural and practical aspects of physical education. The AQA examination board specification aims to improve students’’ knowledge and understanding about physical activity as well as providing them with the opportunity to demonstrate sporting excellence in a more limited range of recognised sports.

This will require them to:

  • develop theoretical knowledge and understanding of the factors that underpin physical activity and sport and use this knowledge to improve performance
  • understand how physiological and psychological states affect performance
  • understand the key socio-cultural factors that influence people’s involvement in physical activity and sport
  • understand the role of technology in physical activity and sport
  • refine their ability to perform effectively in physical activity and sport by developing skills and techniques and selecting and using tactics, strategies and/or compositional ideas
  • develop their ability to analyse and evaluate to improve performance
  • understand the contribution which physical activity makes to health and fitness
  • improve as effective and independent learners and as critical and reflective thinkers with curious and enquiring minds.

CURRRICULUM CONTENT

The Advanced Level qualification is a two year taught linear course which focuses broadly on the following content:

3.1: Factors affecting participation in physical activity & sport

3.2: Factors affecting optimal performance in physical activity & sport

The curriculum is designed to enable students to enjoy and understand the benefits of living a healthy and active lifestyle and to examine some of the factors that impact on sport and physical activity both within the community and at elite level. It can be sub divided into a number of further inter-related yet discrete modules:

  • Applied anatomy and physiology
  • Skill acquisition
  • Sport and society
  • Exercise physiology
  • Biomechanical movement
  • Sport psychology
  • Sport and society and the role of technology in physical activity and sport

Theoretical modules will be taught by specialists from within the Physical Education faculty. Much of the first year of the course (Paper 1) is taught in Year 12 with the remainder delivered in Year 13 (Paper 2). There is an expectation that students taking A level Physical Education will contribute fully to the sporting life of the school. Throughout the course, all pupils are required to demonstrate sporting competence via the collection of their own video evidence.

Students are given the opportunity to perform and demonstrate all round analytical excellence in one practical activity only. Pupils should thus, only consider A Level Physical Education if they are playing or coaching a sport listed on the specification to at least club or as a minimum, secondary school standard.

How will I be assessed?

Paper 1: Factors affecting participation in physical activity & sport {35% of the A-level}

105 marks – 2 hour written examination

Section A – Applied anatomy & physiology (35 marks)

Section B – Skill acquisition (35 marks)

Section C – Sport & society (35 marks)

+ Paper 2: Factors affecting optimal performance in physical activity & sport {35% of the A-level}

105 marks – 2 hour written examination

Section A  – Exercise physiology & biomechanics (35 marks)

Section B – Sports Psychology (35 marks)

Section C – Sport & society and technology in sport (35 marks)

 + Practical performance in physical activity & sport {30% of the A Level}

Students are assessed as a performer in the full sided version of one activity (15%) plus written / verbal analysis & evaluation of performance (15%)

Internal assessment with external moderation is required. Students perform, critically analyse and evaluate their own performance.

FACILITIES & RESOURCES

The Physical Education faculty has its own designated teaching in the purpose built Sixth Form Centre for the teaching of all the academic units within the A level specification. On-site facilities include a large gymnasium, a fully equipped cardio fitness suite and a six lane 25-metre swimming pool. In addition, some PE lessons incorporate the use of the local park and the cricket ground at the East Lancashire Club, both adjacent to the main school building.

The school’s Harrison Playing Fields, a mile away at Lammack, have extensive indoor and outdoor facilities. There are two rugby and four soccer pitches, three cricket squares and courts for netball and tennis, a dance studio plus a sports hall large enough for six badminton courts and two cricket lanes 

TRIPS & VISITS

QEGS is recognised nationally by the Association for Physical Education (afPE) for its commitment to Physical Education, School Sport & Physical Activity provision (PESSPA). Competitive sport is played both home and away on weekdays and Saturday mornings. Sports tours add to a student’s Sixth Form enrichment and visits to Barbados (netball 2019) and Sri Lanka (cricket 2023) have been organised in recent years. A highlight of the academic course is a visit to the University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN) in March each year. Students are given the opportunity to further their understanding of the use of ICT and Technology in Sport by using sophisticated software analysis tasks within the sporting faculty’s own technology suites.

EXTRA CURRICULAR

QEGS is recognised nationally by the Association for Physical Education (afPE) for its commitment to Physical Education, School Sport & Physical Activity provision (PESSPA). It boasts an unrivalled extra curricular package that includes both weekly and Saturday morning competitive sports fixtures both at home and away against other state maintained and independent establishments. With a reputation for supporting the development of talented performers, several of whom have progressed through to professional sport, we know the value of competitive sport and are able to give you the best advice on how to achieve your potential in sport.

Students are encouraged to participate in a range of Wednesday afternoon sporting enrichment activities that includes football, netball, cricket, tennis, rounders, softball, swimming teaching, cardio fitness suite personal fitness, walking & hiking, 5 aside football and ‘indoor games’, In addition, there are opportunities to contribute within the wider community and to local projects as part of our volunteer Community Service initiative. Interested parties should look at the ‘Sport’ website for further detailed information.

CAREERS

A significant number of QEGS students choose to study sports related disciplines at a higher level at university. Physical Education students are highly employable and several are now working in the following careers: football agent, sports marketing, sports law, coaching, physiotherapy, sports medicine, teaching, sports analytics and nutritionists. Two of our most recent former A level students are currently with professional football clubs and one is a professional cricketer at Warwickshire CC.

For more information contact:

Dr ME Butler
Head of Physical Education and Games