Physical Education (BTec)
After Year 9, based on the progress that students have made during the year and their end of year assessment score, some will continue with the GCSE PE course and others will change to a more vocational, coursework-based BTEC option.
What is the exam board and specification?
Pearson BTEC Tech award – Sport (2022) – Exam Board Link
What will you study?
This course will give you the opportunity to develop knowledge and technical skills in a practical learning environment. You will develop key practical skills for working with other people, which include communication, leadership, organisation and time management. These are essential in the sport industry as this will primarily involve working with customers and supporting their individual needs. Everyone taking this qualification will study the following content areas:
- Preparing Participants to take part in Sport and Physical activity – this includes the different types of physical activity and providers, the needs of participants, barriers to participation and ways to overcome these barriers. Equipment and technology required to take part in sport is also included. Learners will also develop an applied understanding of physiology and anatomy as they learn how to plan and deliver a warm up to prepare participants to take part in sport and physical activity.
- Taking part and improving other participants’ sporting performance – this includes the components of fitness and how they are used in different types of sport; practical participation in sport and the rules and regulations in sport and ways to improve other participants sporting performance through planning and delivery of sports drills and conditioned practices.
- Developing Fitness to improve other participants’ performance in sport and physical activity – this covers fitness testing, training and programming for different types of participants to improve their sport and physical activity performance.
How will you be assessed?
Components 1 and 2 are assessed through non-exam internal assessment. The non exam internal assessment for these components has been designed to demonstrate application of the conceptual knowledge underpinning the sector through realistic tasks and activities. This style of assessment promotes deep learning through ensuring the connection between knowledge and practice. The components focus on:
Non-exam internal assessment is delivered through Pearson-set Assignments. These assignments are set by Pearson, marked by the centre and moderated by Pearson. For each component new assignments are released twice a year through the secure area of our website. Each Pearson-set Assignment will be clearly marked with the assessment series and academic year of release; centres must ensure that they are using the current series’ assignment to assess their learners. Centres must use these assignments for summative assessments and the assignments must be completed under supervised conditions
There is one external assessment, Component 3, which provides the main synoptic assessment for the qualification. Component 3 builds directly on Components 1 and 2 and enables learning to be brought together and related to a real-life situation. Component 3: Developing Fitness to Improve Other Participants Performance in Sport and Physical Activity requires learners to use theoretical knowledge and understanding of applied anatomy and physiology, movement analysis and physical training so that they can use this knowledge to analyse and evaluate performance and devise informed strategies for improving/optimising their own practical performance. The design of this external assessment ensures that there is sufficient stretch and challenge, enabling the assessment of knowledge and understanding at the end of the learning period. The external assessment is based on a written assessment that requires learners to demonstrate that they can identify and use effectively an appropriate selection of skills, techniques, concepts, theories and knowledge from across the whole qualification in an integrated way. The external assessment takes the form of an external exam taken under supervised conditions, which is then marked and a grade awarded by Pearson.
Each component is worth 60 marks and the marks for each of the components is then added together to give a final grade:
- D2*: equivalent to a GCSE grade 8.5
- D2: equivalent to a GCSE grade 7
- M2: equivalent to a GCSE grade 5.5
- P2: equivalent to a GCSE grade 4
- D1: equivalent to a GCSE grade 3
- M1: equivalent to a GCSE grade 2
- P1: equivalent to a GCSE grade 1.75
What qualities do I need to be successful in the subject?
If you wish to study this course you will need to be passionate about sports and have an interest in coaching. You will need to be able to play a sport to a good standard but it will only be a small part of your assessment. You will need to be confident around your peers as you will need leadership in a number of different parts of the assessment.
It is also important that you have high levels of personal organisation and drive as you will need to complete a number of pieces of coursework independently.
What future opportunities can I have with this subject?
Once you have completed the qualification, you will have developed a practical understanding of the sport industry. You will have built useful skills, which are not generally covered in GCSE courses, and you will have developed a good understanding of whether the sport industry is for you, and if so, which part of it you might want to study further. If you decide to go on to further study of sport, the best option for you will depend on the grades you have achieved in this and the other qualifications you have taken, and what you enjoy doing. You could progress to a Level 2 Technical Certificate or to a Level 3 programme, such as A Levels, a T Level or a BTEC National, either on its own or in combination with A levels.
Who should I contact for further information?
Speak to Mr Hall: c.hall@kwschool.co.uk
