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Physical Education

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This course combines the development of your Physical Education theory, whilst encouraging you to develop your practical skill set.

We are proud of our performance in A-Level PE, with students often going on to study sports-related courses at undergraduate level.

You will study how modern day sport has emerged alongside contemporary issues such as drugs, the media and the Olympics. You will learn about anatomy and physiology, examining in detail how the body’s systems affect sporting performance. In the second year, we look at biomechanics, energy systems and injury prevention.

The course has a component relating to how we learn skills and sports psychology as well as a practical element where performance is measured in one sport along with an assessed speech.

Entry Criteria

6 in GCSE PE OR 5 in GCSE PE and 6 in GCSE English or a GCSE Science.

Companion Subjects

Biology

Chemistry

Business

Psychology

Sociology

Geography

Career Paths

  • Sports Coaching
  • Sports Therapy
  • Physiotherapy
  • Sports Development Officer
  • Marketing
  • Sports Management
  • Teaching

Subject Intent

This course offers a perfect blend of scientific insight, practical performance, and societal awareness. Students critically analyse their own activity, understand the factors influencing performance, and develop advanced physical, analytical, and teamwork skills. It’s ideal for those interested in sports, health sciences, education, psychology—or wanting to stay active and informed into adulthood.

Course Overview

Theory Components
Component 01 – Physiological Factors (30%)

  • Explore anatomy, exercise physiology, biomechanics—including the impact of diet, injury, and motion.
  • 2 hour exam, 90 marks.

Component 02 – Psychological Factors (20%)

  • Study skill acquisition models, sports psychology, feedback, leadership, goal-setting, stress.
  • 1 hour exam, 60 marks.

Component 03 – Socio-Cultural Issues (20%)

  • Learn how sport interacts with society: technology, global events, ethics, access and equity.
  • 1 hour exam, 60 marks.

Practical & Analytical Components
Component 05 – Practical Performance (15%)

  • Students choose one activity from the OCR-approved list and perform as athlete or coach, assessed on skill, tactics, and application.

Component 06 – EAPI (Evaluation & Analysis) (15%)

  • You analyse and evaluate a peer’s performance—decoding strengths, weaknesses, and improvement strategies.

Assessment Breakdown

Component 01 – Physiological exam – 2 hours, 90 marks – 30%
Component 02 – Psychological exam – 1 hour, 60 marks – 20%
Component 03 – Socio-cultural exam – 1 hour, 60 marks – 20%
Component 05 – Practical Performance NEA – Internal – 15%
Component 06 – Evaluation & Analysis NEA – Internal – 15%
All theory papers include synoptic questions that link multiple topics.

Homework & Independent Study

Expect to:

  • Engage in weekly theory study—exam-style questions, revision, and independent reading.
  • Participate in regular activity/fitness training for the NEA.
  • Reflect on current sports news and performance trends.

Enrichment Opportunities

  • Attend workshops (e.g. biomechanics labs, sport psychology).
  • Visit sports and health facilities—local or national.
  • Take part in sports clubs, coaching, mentoring, or competitions.
  • Benefit from guest talks by physiologists, coaches, teachers, and psychologists.

Where Can PE Take You?

This qualification equips you for university courses and careers in:

  • Sport Science, Coaching, Physiotherapy, Teaching, Sports Psychology.
    It also supports transferable fields like Management, Health Promotion, Data Analysis, and Media. The analytical, practical, and leadership skills learned are valuable in many sectors.

Curriculum Content

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