What is A-Level Physical Education?
After Team GB’s remarkable success in recent Olympic Games, you may be asking yourself, “What does it take to produce an Olympic gold medallist?”
The answer is a complex one, because there are a multitude of factors involved. PE A level provides students with the opportunity to explore many of these diverse, contributing factors.
Including:
- Training, nutritional and technological advancements in sport and their impact on performance.
- How the body Physiologically adapts to training and performance.
- How the brain works during physical activity and how elite performers gain the psychological edge over their competitors.
- The impact sport has had on society, and the social factors that are necessary for participation rates to grow and elite athletes to excel.
- How to develop and analyse you own sporting performance, whether that be as a performer or coach.
What you'll do
In essence, the PE A level is divided into four distinct areas:
- Sports Anatomy, Physiology and Training
- Sports Psychology
- Social, cultural and technological factors influencing sport
- Your own sporting performance (only one sport is assessed)
Topic areas 1, 2 & 3 will be assessed through a written examination (70% of total mark).
Topic area 4 will be assessed through a practical performance and written analysis (30% of total mark).
Whom does this subject suit?
PE suits students who have a passion for sport; students who will enjoy a fast paced and diverse course that covers many subject areas – yet is always underpinned by the student’s application to sport.
Students that have taken PE have combined it with a wide range of other subjects from Art through to Physics. Some are keen to study the subject further at university, whilst many take the subject because they realise it is important to study something you enjoy.
To excel in PE it’s very advantageous if you’re a high level performer or coach in one of the sports listed below, however, regularly training and competing at a strong club level is sufficient to take the course.
Amateur Boxing
Basketball
Cycling
Gaelic football
Hockey
Netball
Rugby Union
Squash
Trampolining
Association Football
Camogie
Dance
Golf
Hurling
Rock Climbing
Sculling
Swimming
Volleyball
Athletics
Canoeing
Diving
Gymnastics
Kayaking
Rowing
Skiing
Table tennis
Badminton
Cricket
Equestrian
Handball
Lacrosse
Rugby League
Snowboarding
Tennis
Blind cricket
Polybat
Boccia
Table cricket
Goal ball
Wheelchair basketball
Powerchair football
Wheelchair rugby
What might the subject lead to?
The obvious suggestion is to say that it will lead to one of many of the sports-related degree courses available. However, the real benefit of the PE A level is that it enables you to grasp a wide range of skills – from scientific research through to debate. It also develops an organised well-rounded student who can cope with the demands of university life. This wide variety of skill sets will stand you in good stead for most university courses.
The same applies to the workplace. Sport is now such a huge industry that there are endless employment opportunities. A few examples: coaching, teaching, biomechanics, sports rehabilitation, officiating, sports technology development, sports administration, sports management and media.