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Physical Education - GCSE PE

Physical Education should inspire all students to succeed and excel in competitive sport and other physically-demanding activities. It should provide opportunities for our students to become more physically competent in ways which supports their health, fitness and wellbeing.

Our curriculum offers all students the chance to compete in sport and other activities which build character and help to embed values such as fairness and respect.

GCSE PE gives students an in-depth understanding of factors which affect PE, sport and performance.

The course is assessed through two written examinations focusing on the human body, movement analysis, physical training, socio-cultural influences, sport psychology and health and wellbeing. Students will also undertake practical lessons where they will have the opportunity to develop their sporting performance. Their performance in three sports will be assessed along with the ability to analyse their own performance.

Areas of study:

Paper 1: The human body and movement in physical activity and sport 

Paper 2: Socio-cultural influences, sport psychology and health, fitness and well-being.

Students are given an understanding of the socio-cultural influences, the psychological factors that can affect performers in physical activity and sport as well as the impact and benefits of health, fitness and well-being. 

NEA: Practical performance in physical activity and sport 

Students will be assessed in three practical activities, one of which must be an individual activity or one of which must be a team activity. Students will also complete a controlled assessment where they will be required to identify the strength and weaknesses of a sporting performance, then advise on how to improve upon it.

Curriculum information

Year

Autumn

Spring

Summer

10

In year 10 AQA GCSE PE students will revisit theoretical knowledge of physical training in relation to components of fitness and training required by different sports performers and develop knowledge and understanding of anatomy and physiology, movement analysis and sports psychology. In a practical sense, students will participate in a variety of different sports in order to help improve skills which will also be assessed for the practical element of their grade.  In addition to this, students will begin to complete the written NEA element of the course by analysing their own performance in sport.  Throughout the year students are expected to work to the best of their ability, work independently and participate in physical activity outside of lesson time on a regular basis.

 

Topics covered this term:

 

Theory

 

Physical Training

  • Health and Fitness
  • Components of Fitness
  • Fitness Testing
  • Collecting Data
  • Types of Training
  • Principles of Training
  • Calculating Intensities
  • Injury Consideration
  • Altitude Training
  • Seasonal Aspects
  • Warming up and Cooling down

 

Practical

  • Fitness
  • Badminton

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Topics covered this term:

 

Theory

 

Health and Fitness

  • Physical, emotional and social health
  • Sedentary Lifestyle
  • Obesity
  • Energy Use
  • Nutrition and Hydration

 

Anatomy and Physiology

  • Bones and structure of skeleton
  • Functions of the skeleton
  • Joints
  • Movement at joints
  • Muscular system
  • Antagonise muscle pairs
  • Muscle contractions

 

 

Practical

  • Basketball
  • Table Tennis

 

  

Topics covered this term:

 

Theory

 

Anatomy and Physiology

  • Respiratory system - pathway of air
  • Gaseous exchange
  • Mechanics of breathing
  • Spirometer trace
  • Blood vessels
  • Structure of the heart
  • Cardiac cycle
  • Cardiac output / stroke volume and heart rates
  • EPOC and recovery processes
  • Short term and long term effects of exercise

 

Movement Analysis

  • Lever systems
  • Planes and Axis

 

NEA

  • Coursework part 1

 

 Practical

  • Athletics

11

In year 11 AQA GCSE PE students will develop theoretical knowledge of socio-cultural influences impacting on participation. In a practical sense, students will participate in a variety of different sports in order to help improve skills which will also be assessed for the practical element of their grade.  In addition to this, students will continue to complete the written NEA element of the course by evaluating their own performance in sport an action plan to improve a particular aspect.  Throughout the year students are expected to work to the best of their ability, work independently and participate in physical activity outside of lesson time on a regular basis.

 

Topics covered this term:

 

Theory

 

Sports Psychology

  • Skill and ability
  • Classification of skill
  • Arousal and inverted U theory
  • Stress management
  • Types of goals
  • SMART targets
  • Information processing
  • Guidance and feedback
  • Aggression
  • Personality
  • Motivation

 

Socio-cultural Issues

  • Engagement Patterns 

 

Practical

  • Trampolining
  • Badminton 

 

Topics covered this term:

 

  • Commercialisation
  • Sponsorship
  • Media/Technology 
  • Performance Enhancing Drugs
  • Spectator Behaviour 
  • Revision of Y10 and Y11 content

 

 Practical

  • Netball
  • Moderation Preparation 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Topics covered this term:

 

  • Revision of Year 10 and 11 content

 

 

 

 

 

 

I find GCSE PE challenging but enjoyable. Lots of opportunities are created to learn outside the classroom.
Year 10 student