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Physical Education A-Level

Physical Education at The Bedford Sixth Form

Qualification: A-Level | Exam board: OCR

Studying A-Level Physical Education will give you a fantastic insight into the amazing world of sports performance.

Not only will you have the chance to perform or coach a sport through the non-exam assessment component, you will also develop a wide range of knowledge  of the how and why of physical activity and sport. The combination of physical performance and academic challenge provides an exciting opportunity for students. You can perform, and then through the academic study improve, your performance or coaching through the application of theory.

There will be optional trips throughout the year, including a student revision conference, and a trip to the University of Bedfordshire sports science laboratory.

Physical Education at The Bedford Sixth Form

Year one content

Component One:

Physiological factors affecting performance

Content assessed includes applied anatomy and physiology; exercise physiology, and biomechanics, including technology in sport. This component focuses on key systems of the human body involved in movement and physical activity. In-depth knowledge of training methods and aids will be developed. The key biomechanical principles will also be studied including Newton’s laws applied to sport.

Component Two:

Psychological and socio-cultural themes in physical education

Content assessed includes skill acquisition, sports psychology, and sport and society. This component focuses on models and theories that affect learning and performance in physical activities. It also focuses on the sociological and contemporary factors that influence and affect physical activity and sport for both the audience and the performer and how sport affects society.

Component Three:

Performance within physical education

This component gives you the opportunity to apply the theory to your own sporting performance (as either a coach or a practitioner) and also to analyse performance in your chosen sport, creating a short term development plan for performance.

Physical Education at The Bedford Sixth Form

Year two content

Component One:

Physiological factors affecting performance.

Content assessed includes applied anatomy and physiology, exercise physiology, and biomechanics. This component focuses on the body’s energy systems, sports injuries and rehabilitation, and key biomechanical content.

Component Two:

Psychological factors affecting performance.

Content assessed includes skill acquisition and sports psychology. This component focuses on how performers attribute success and failure, and leadership models.

Component Three:

Socio-cultural issues in physical activity and sport.

Content assessed includes sport and society and contemporary issues in physical activity and sport. This component focuses on ethics in sport, commercialism, and modern technology in sport.

Component Four:

Performance in physical education.

This component gives you the opportunity to apply the theory to your own sporting performance (as either a coach or a practitioner) and also to analyse performance in your chosen sport, creating a long term development plan for performance.

Additional information

What does this course prepare me for?

A Level-Physical Education is an excellent base for a university degree in sports science, sports management, healthcare, or exercise and health.

Physical Education can also complement further study in biology, human biology, physics, psychology, nutrition, sociology, and many more.

A-Level Physical Education can open up a range of career opportunities including sports development, sports coaching, physiotherapy, personal training, or becoming one of the next generations of PE teachers. The transferable skills you learn through your study of Physical Education, such as decision making and independent thinking are also useful in any career path you choose to take.

Course support and enrichment

We are committed to providing efficient and effective support and we are always here when you need to speak to a person about an important issue.

We run an extensive sports enrichment programme to aid your practical performance; these are at lunchtime and at the end of the day. There will be optional trips throughout the year, including a student revision conference, and a trip to the University of Bedfordshire sports science laboratory.

Assessment

Students will be assessed internally on a regular basis, including through formal mock exams. There are final exams at the end of the course in Year two.

Year 2 assessment:

A 70% Exam that assesses the content taught over the two-year course. A total of four hours split over three examination papers (2 x 1 hour and 1 x 2 hour) taken at the end of the two-year course.

A 30% Non-Exam Assessment (NEA) which consists of one practical performance, as either a coach or a performer in an activity and one Performance Analysis task.

Entry requirements

Some of our subjects are subject to standard entry requirement and some have additional requirements. Please see below:

Subject specific entry requirements

  • 5 in Science and competing at club level in one sport

Standard entry requirements

  • At least five GCSEs at grades 9-4 including English Language and Maths (one Vocational or Technical qualification at Merit or above may be counted)

AND

  • At least grade 4 (or Merit for Vocational or Technical qualifications) in any subject(s) that you have taken at GCSE and wish to continue studying at Level 3

AND

  • Average GCSE (best 8) of at least 4 (38 on the old points table)

AND

  • Grade 4 (or Merit), at least, in any subject previously studied
  • Students will take either 3 A-Level subjects or 1 Diploma subject with 1 A-Level
September 2025

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Applications to join us in September 2025 are now open!

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