Physical Education A Level

This challenging, multi-disciplinary course incorporates aspects of Exercise, Physiology, Sociology and Psychology related to the sports industry. The course provides access to a wide variety of sport related courses including Sports Science, Sports Therapy, Sports Psychology and Education degrees. 

This course will help prepare students for a range of careers in the Sport and Exercise industry as well as supporting careers involving Media, Psychology, Physiotherapy and Sociology. 

Sport courses are diverse and cover a range of sport related topics including anatomical, psychological and sociological aspects of Sport. This means a wide range of subjects work well with A Level PE, including:

• Business
• Media Studies
• Sociology
• Psychology
• Biology
• Applied Human Biology

Studying Sport at Reigate College could lead to:

• A degree in Sports Studies, Sports Science, Exercise Science, Physiotherapy, Sports Management or Sports Coaching and PE teaching
• Careers within the Fitness Training Industry, Leisure Centres, Sports Development and Coaching are also popular

See what some of our former Sport students have gone on to do.

This course covers:

• The physiological effects of adopting a healthy lifestyle
• The short term effect of exercise/performance and the long term effects of training
• Analysis of movement across a range of sporting actions
• Acquisition of skills and the impact of psychological factors on performance
• Opportunities for physical activity, benefits to the individual and society and the potential barriers faced by minority groups
• Energy sources and systems
• Elite preparation and training
• Specialised training and sports injuries
• The use of psychological theories and techniques to optimise performance
• Concepts and characteristics of World Games and their impact on the state and individual
• Development and impact of sports technology on performers, equipment and facilities
• The development of sport from rational recreation to its modern day format

Course Specific Trips, Visits & Experiences

Physical Education A Level students have the opportunity to take part in a variety of course related experiences. In recent years, these have included:

• Fitness Testing 
• Wheelchair Basketball
• Sports Awards ceremony

In addition to course specific experiences, students also have the opportunity to get involved in the College’s Activities Programme.

All students need to gain an experience of the work place during their time at College and for students studying vocational courses it should ideally be linked to one of their subject areas.

This course is mainly theory based and is assessed through written examination,  coursework and practical performance. Students’ practical performance will be assessed through video evidence.  Students should be competing and playing on a regular basis to improve their own performance. 

A Level PE has a 30% coursework element (15% written performance analysis and 15% practical performance in competitive situations, assessed via video evidence).

Assessment of quantitative skills will represent a minimum of 5% of the overall A Level mark.

The exam board for this A Level is AQA.

All students need to have at least five GCSEs at Grade 4 or above (and a satisfactory school reference) in order to be accepted on an A Level/BTEC Level 3 Programme. In addition, students should meet the following minimum GCSE requirements:

• Grade 4 in English Language and Maths and Grade 5 in a Science subject (5,5 in Combined Science)

GCSE PE is not required.

Students who do not fulfil this criteria should consider the BTEC Sport course.

Students will enjoy this course if they:

• Have an active enthusiasm and interest in Sport and Physical Recreation
• Are keen to develop their own knowledge of health, physical activity in society and the mental and physical elements of sport performance

Students MUST have strong sporting ability in one sport from the approved exam board list and be taking part competitively throughout the course.  See the list of approved sports in the FAQ section below.

How much practical work will I do in A Level PE? 

PE Lessons are theory based – you do the practical element in your own time in your chosen sport, at the highest possible level.

Can I use Ice Hockey/Table Tennis/Windsurfing as my practical sport for A Level PE?

This is the approved exam board list of activities:

• Acrobatic gymnastics
• Amateur boxing
• Association football – Cannot be five-a-side
• Athletics –  Long distance running must not exceed 10,000 metres
• Badminton
• Basketball
• Camogie
• Canoeing
• Cricket
• Cycling Track, road or BMX cycling (racing, not tricks) only
• Dance
• Diving Platform diving
• Equestrian
• Figure skating
• Futsal
• Golf
• Gaelic football
• Gymnastics – Floor routines and apparatus only
• Handball
• Hockey – Must be field hockey
• Hurling
• Ice hockey
• Inline roller hockey
• Kayaking
• Lacrosse
• Netball
• Rock climbing – Can be indoor or outdoor
• Rowing
• Rugby league – Cannot be tag rugby
• Rugby union – Can be assessed as seven or fifteen a side. Cannot be tag rugby.
• Sailing – Royal Yachting Association recognised sailing boat classes only. The list can be found online at: https://www.rya.org.uk/racing/youthjunior/info/Pages/recognised-classes.aspx. Students must perform as helmsman.
• Sculling
• Skiing Outdoor/indoor on snow – Must not be dry slopes
• Snowboarding Outdoor/indoor on snow – Must not be dry slopes
• Squash
• Swimming – Not synchronised swimming, personal survival or lifesaving
• Table Tennis
• Tennis
• Trampolining
• Triathlon Sprint only
• Volleyball
• Water polo
• Windsurfing

Specialist activities:

• Blind cricket
• Boccia
• Goal ball
• Powerchair football
• Polybat
• Table cricket
• Wheelchair basketball
• Wheelchair rugby

What’s the difference between A Level PE and BTEC Sport?

In A Level PE, the assessment is 70% examination based with a 30% assessed coursework component comprising a sport practical assessment on ability in one sport via video evidence (15%) and a piece of written coursework (15%). 

The A Level requires a deep understanding and analysis of the key concepts and academic theories. The BTEC Sport course involves more practical work and the modules studied relate to areas of the sports industry.

What sort of questions do you explore in PE A Level?

The course considers questions and topics such as: why some people can run faster than others, how personality affects performance, how to become an elite sports performer, why people take drugs, UK sports, factors influencing success in sport and how technology affects performers, coaches and spectators.

What sort of sport-related university courses do students go on to study?

In 2020, PE students went on to study on university courses including:

Physical Education, Sport and Youth Development – St Mary’s University, Twickenham

Physical Education and School Sport – Sheffield Hallam University

Sport Conditioning, Rehabilitation and Massage – Cardiff Metropolitan University

Sport & Exercise Science – Loughborough University, Swansea University, Bournemouth University, Manchester Metropolitan University

Sport Management – Loughborough University

Sport Rehabilitation – St Mary’s University, Twickenham

Sport (Sports Performance) – University of Bath

Sports Therapy – University of Bath