What do we study?

Studying A Level Physical Education will give you a fantastic insight into the amazing world of sports performance. Not only will you have the chance to perform or coach a sport through the non-exam assessment component, you will also develop a wide ranging knowledge into the how and why of physical activity and sport. The combination of physical performance and academic challenge provides an exciting opportunity for students.  You can perform, and then through the academic study, improve your performance or coaching though application of the theory. Physical Education is studied though a range of different contexts and the impact it has on both ours and other’s everyday lives. You will learn the reasons why we do things, why some people out perform others, mentally and physically. You will also delve into the history of sport and development of the Global sporting industry, the ethical considerations behind the use of drugs, and also the influence that modern technology like social media, and advances in equipment such as ergogenic aids are having on physical activity and sport.

Beyond the Classroom

During your A Level studies your learning will be supported with extra-curricular trips e.g. UCFB at Wembley Stadium where you will take part in lectures and find out more about further pathways in sport. We also will have visiting speakers from a range of sporting careers during the course. Physical Education supports the curriculum’s vision for our young people of enabling students to become confident, connected, actively involved, lifelong learners. We fully support the development of leadership and teamwork skills and will support pupils in gaining NGB accredited coaching awards where possible. We then encourage students to transfer this knowledge to other learning areas e.g. working with groups in a leadership role in the school setting, or outside of school in sports clubs or community groups.

Where it Might Lead

The sports industry is one of the fastest growing sectors of modern society. You only have to look at the rise of performance analysis in Premier League football, or at the growth of the Olympic and Paralympic movements to see that with the right qualifications and a passion for sport, there are a huge number of exciting opportunities open to talented young people.

A Level PE represents the first steps towards these opportunities. With a grounding in a wide range of sports disciplines our students have gone on to study sport related courses at a number of the UK's leading universities. Possible career pathways for those with A Level PE include Match Analyst, Nutritionist, Sports journalist, PE Teacher, Sports Development Officer, Physiotherapist, Sports Management roles, and many more.

For those with career aspirations elsewhere, A Level PE has many commonalities with a number of other courses and is complimented particularly well by Biology, Psychology, History and to a lesser extent Maths and Physics. An A Level in PE provides a pathway into careers working with people, such as education, health, justice, and the social services; and may well even be beneficial to further study in subjects as diverse as Medicine and Politics.