Physical Education

PE
SUBJECT - GCSE PHYSICAL EDUCATION (AQA NEW SPECIFICATION)
This specification follows on from the Key Stage 3 Physical Education programme of study by providing students with exciting opportunities to lead a healthy and active lifestyle by choosing from a variety of roles and activities in which to participate in physical activity. The content of the GCSE Physical Education specification is designed to enable students to enjoy and understand the benefits of living a healthy and active lifestyle; to provide a route to further study in Further Education awards, such as A levels and/or the new Diplomas, and to Higher Education in PE as well as to related career opportunities. Pupils who have an interest in selecting GCSE PE should bear in mind that there has been a shift within the new specification to change the weighting of assessment towards the theoretical side of the course. This change has been reflected in the Year 9 curriculum this year. Students have completed a 6 lesson block of theory work with a GCSE style exam at the end to test suitability and aptitude for the course.
The aims of this course are to encourage pupils to:
  • Be inspired, motivated and challenged, and enable them to make informed decisions about further learning opportunities and career pathways
  • Develop knowledge, understanding, skills and values to develop and maintain their performance in physical activities and understand the benefits to health, fitness and well-being
  • Develop theoretical knowledge and understanding of the factors that underpin physical activity and sport and use this knowledge to improve performance
  • Understand how the physiological and psychological state affects performance in physical activity and sport
  • Perform effectively in different physical activities 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 in physical activity and sport
  • Understand the contribution which physical activity and sport make to health, fitness and wellbeing
  • Understand key socio-cultural influences which can affect people’s involvement in physical activity and sport.
The course consists of two sections:
Written Examination Paper: 2 x 1 ½ hour Examination papers (60% of overall GCSE)
Non-Exam Assessment: Practical Performance assessments (40% of overall GCSE)
Non-Exam Assessment: Practical Performance in Physical Activity and sport
This is assessed internally by the subject teacher and moderated by the exam board. Assessment is made from a variety of activities of which the best 3 performance scores for students are selected. Other sporting activities performed outside of practical PE lessons may also be used when circumstances allow. The Non-Examination Assessment counts for 40% of the overall GCSE Total.

Examination Assessment – 60%

This takes the form of two 1 ½ hours paper taken at the end of year 11. Each of these examinations will count for 30% of the overall GCSE Score. The 2 exams will cover the following topics;
Paper 1: The Human Body and Movement in Physical Activity and Sport • Applied Anatomy and Physiology
  • Movement Analysis
  • Physical Training
  • Use of Data
Paper 2: Socio-Cultural Influences and Well-Being in Physical Activity and Sport • Sports Psychology
  • Socio-Cultural Influences
  • Health, Fitness and Well-Being
  • Use of Data
The style for both of these question papers have been designed to include a mixture of multiple choice questions, some structured questions, and extended written answer questions.
It is expected that students looking to take GCSE PE as an Option in Key Stage 4 are able to have demonstrated suitable levels of practical performance, focus and engagement during their previous and future performances within Key Stage 3 PE.