Physical Education

Course Information

Course TypeSixth Form Centre
Course LevelA-Level
Awarding BodyOCR

Physical Education will suit students who have a passion for sport. You should study this subject if you find the theoretical aspects of the subject interesting and enjoy competing in sport.

If you’re driven to find out how you can improve physical performance; interested in how our bodies can be pushed to their physical peak; keen to understand what gives champions a psychological edge and intrigued by biomechanics, then this subject is for you.

What we’ll study

A Level PE can be useful for progression on to a university course or for your chosen career. The department has a good track record in respect of excellent exam results and the number of students who progress on to higher education, to study degree courses, often in the field of sport.

You should choose this course if you have a keen interest in the theory side of physical education and are regularly competing in at least one sport.

The course is split into four sections:

  • scientific focus (30%)
  • psychological focus (20%)
  • socio-cultural focus (20%)

performing and evaluating practical skills (30%). The practical component is further split into 15% performance in one sport, chosen only from the approved list of sports, which you can find listed here, and 15% evaluation of performance.

Sports List

  • Acrobatic gymnastics 
  • Amateur boxing 
  • Association football 
  • Athletics 
  • Badminton
  • Basketball
  • Blind cricket
  • BMX Racing only (not trick) 
  • Boccia 
  • Camogie
  • Canoeing 
  • Cricket 
  • Cross country running
  • Cycling Track or Road Cycling 
  • Dance 
  • Diving Platform 
  • Equestrian 
  • Field Hockey
  • Figure skating 
  • Futsal 
  • Gaelic football 
  • Goalball
  • Golf 
  • Gymnastics 
  • Handball 
  • Hurling 
  • Ice hockey 
  • Inline roller hockey 
  • Kayaking 
  • Lacrosse 
  • Netball 
  • Polybat 
  • Powerchair football 
  • Rock climbing 
  • Rowing
  • Rugby league 
  • Rugby union 
  • Sailing 
  • Skiing 
  • Snowboarding 
  • Squash
  • Swimming 
  • Table cricket
  • Table tennis
  • Tennis
  • Trampolining
  • Triathlon Sprint only 
  • Volleyball
  • Water polo
  • Wheelchair basketball 
  • Wheelchair rugby
  • Windsurfing

Students who compete at county level or above are also eligible to benefit from the sports scholarship scheme.

As a student with us, you’ll have the opportunity to visit some of the high profile sporting venues around the country. Recent visits have included Wimbledon and The Manchester Velodrome.

Your future

Careers linked to Physical Education could include teaching, sports coaching, leisure management, sports development, physiotherapy, sports science and technology, events management and the armed forces.

How you’ll be assessed

To succeed in this course you’ll need to pass three exams in subjects including applied anatomy, sports psychology and sport in society as well as having coursework assessed.


Factfile

Level: A Level

Examining Board: OCR

Entry Requirements:

General College entry requirements.

GCSE PE is required at grade 5 or above if studied and taken at high school.

Merit in BTEC Sport (if studied and taken at high school).

GCSE Combined Science 5/5. If studying separate Sciences at GCSE, grades 5/5/4.

Weekly playing, training and competing at an external club in one chosen sport.

GCSE English and GCSE Maths at grade 4 or above.

Great partner subjects for A Level PE:

This subject combines well with a wide variety of other subjects (Biology, Psychology, Sociology), but science subjects are sometimes necessary for sports science and physiotherapy degree courses, so if you know which route you’ll pursue at university, check which A Levels best match your degree course of choice.

To discuss whether our A Level PE course is for you, please get in touch.

Downloads

Title Date  
Physical Education FAQs 30th Jan 2024 Download
Physical Education Subject Card 06th Feb 2024 Download