KS4 Physical Education (GCSE)
Being physically educated and practically active is extremely important for physical and mental health. Studying GCSE PE enables and empowers learners to understand details about how the body works during exercise, how muscles move, what it takes to learn skills, how spectators affect the arousal of athletes; how diet and nutrition affect health and performance and much more. It is an engaging specification and a great foundation for any further studies or employment in PE, physiotherapy and science background jobs.
As well as developing the skills and knowledge detailed below, students are encouraged to expand their own love and knowledge of various sports by joining clubs in and out of school; by watching sport on television; to expand their understanding and application of tactics, to be interested in the human body and how it works and improves, and to read about and listen to podcasts and interviews on topical issues that are happening in the sports world.
New and contemporary topics will help students of all abilities to develop a well-rounded skill set and prepare them for progression to further studies.
Exam board:
How is this examined?:
There are four components that combine to make up your GCSE PE.
Two written exams:
- 1 x 1 hour 30 minutes (Anatomy and physiology; health related fitness)
- 1 x 1 hour 30 minutes (Psychology of sport; Social/culture influences on sport)
In addition to this there are a further two components:
- 30% of the GCSE is awarded for practical. Your best mark for 3 sports will be recorded. These must be a mix of team sports and individual sports. One of these may be a sport you play out of school
- 10% of the GCSE is coursework (NEA). Performance analysis- evaluating strengths and weaknesses of your performance in a sport and recommendations to improve.
How is the course structured?
| Year 10 | Year 11 | ||
| Teacher 1 (Paper 1 focus) | Teacher 2 (Paper 2 focus) | Teacher 1 (Paper 1 focus) | Teacher 2 (Paper 2 focus) |
|
Term 1 Skeletal system:
Term 2 & 3 Physical training:
Coursework:
Term 4 & 5 Mock exam preparation Respiratory system:
Muscular system:
Term 6 Physical training:
Coursework
|
Term 1 & 2 Sports psychology:
Term 3 & 4 Socio-cultural influences:
Coursework:
Term 5 & 6 Socio-cultural:
Revision for mocks Coursework
|
Term 1 Cardiovascular System:
Term 2 Effects of exercise and the recovery process Movement analysis
Term 3 Coursework
Term 4 Revision & past papers Term 5 Revision & past papers |
Term 1 Physical & social health:
Coursework:
Term 2 Balanced diet:
Term 3 & 4 Revision Finalise coursework
Term 5 Revision & past papers |
| Baseline practical assessments for different sports, at various points in the year - rugby, netball, cross country, football | Continued practical assessments to measure progress in different sports that will influence each learners’ overall grade | ||
Why is the course sequenced in this way?
Topics are delivered in order to build on prior knowledge and develop understanding of new content and to assist in providing continuity and progression in teaching.
What is the best way to revise?
In order for students to achieve their potential, revision is built into lessons and Home Learning from the beginning of Year 10.
To support practical performance grades, there are school sports clubs that GCSE sportspeople should attend, and play in school matches. During the year, specific assessment games and sessions will be arranged in extra-curricular time. This is because it helps to raise the grades when everyone present is a GCSE/club player.
Recommended revision guide: Click HERE
Clubs
Please click HERE to see the current PE clubs timetable
