Physical Education
OCR
This year the PE department will be offering OCR A Level PE alongside our established BTEC Sport courses.
Why study A Level PE?
This course will prepare learners for the further study of PE or sports science courses as well as other related subject areas such as psychology, sociology and biology. Learners will also develop the transferable skills that are in demand by further education, Higher Education and employers in all sectors of industry. The course will create confident, independent thinkers and effective decision makers who can operate effectively as individuals or as part of a team – all skills that will enable them to stand out and effectively promote themselves as they progress through life.
How is the course structured?
The OCR A-Level course is split into 5 components:
Physiological factors affecting performance
This component will assess applied anatomy and physiology, exercise physiology, and biomechanics (written paper: 2 hours, 30% of total A Level, 90 marks)
Psychological factors affecting performance
This component will assess skill acquisition and sports psychology (written paper: 1 hour, 20% of total A Level, 60 marks)
Socio-cultural issues in physical activity and sport
This component will assess sport and society alongside contemporary issues in physical activity and sport (written paper: 1 hour, 20% of total A Level, 60 marks)
Practical Performances
This component will assess either; core and advanced skills in performing one activity or core and advanced skills in coaching one activity (Non-exam assessment, 15% of total A Level, 30 marks, weighted up to 45 marks)
Evaluating and Analysing Performance for Improvement
This component draws upon the knowledge, understanding and skills a learner has learnt throughout the course and enables them to analyse and evaluate a peer’s performance in one activity (Non-exam assessment, 15% of total A Level, 30 marks, weighted up to 45 marks)
Who should choose the A Level PE course?
The A Level course represents an excellent opportunity for students interested in sport and physical education to pursue this subject area to a higher standard, gaining widely applicable knowledge and skills in the process. Universities will welcome applications for sport-related degree courses from students who have completed this course, as well as courses in other related subject areas such as psychology, sociology and biology. Please seek advice from any of the academic PE staff if you would like to find out more about this course and whether it is for you.
A Level PE will appeal to those students who have enjoyed GCSE PE, and have reached a high level of performance or coaching in at least one sport, and who have the ability to analyse and evaluate sports performance. The GCSE grade requirement to access the A Level course is a grade 7 at GCSE in the subject, reflecting the academic demands of the course.