Physical Education / Sports Studies

Course summary

The A-level PE course combines physical performance with academic challenge and provides an interesting qualification for pupils who enjoy sports at all levels. Its stimulating content gives you insight into the world of sports performance through sports science, sports psychology and the sociological and cultural factors that influence today’s sporting world. You will learn why some people outperform others, from both physical and mental perspectives. You will also delve into the ethical considerations behind performance-enhancing drugs and the influence of technology in giving that all-important marginal advantage over an opponent in modern sports. You need to be genuinely interested in the world of sports and prepared to keep up to date with the sports world through reading articles online and in newspapers, magazines and journals. Studying PE requires good communication and decision-making skills and the ability to deal with pressure. The course will develop your ability to analyse, evaluate and interpret both performance and data so sound literacy and numeracy skills are an advantage; a solid grade at GCSE Biology is advantageous. It is not necessary to be an outstanding athlete or games player, but some ability and a keen interest in sport is essential. Due to the diverse nature of the course that combines science with sociology, PE combines well with both science and art subjects.