GCSE PE at KS4
This course is taught both within a classroom and practically. The practical element of the course is taught through core PE lessons and extra-curricular activities.
As part of the course we will cover seven units over a two-year period. These will include; Applied Anatomy and Physiology and Socio-cultural Influences.
What can the qualification lead to?
The subject is very broad, so will prepare students for further study in a variety of subjects from Psychology to Biology and from Physics to Sociology. As well as leading to further study at Key Stage 5, a qualification in GCSE PE is the perfect preparation for careers in coaching, primary and secondary school teaching, diet and nutrition, physiotherapy and sports consultancy as well as the ever increasing health and fitness industry. The GCSE PE course has a more “science based” core but socio-cultural studies and psychology also feature heavily.
GCSE PE would be helpful for those looking at careers in the police force, paramedics and the military but the analytical skills developed are often as important as the physical ones, so knowledge of leadership, team dynamics, information processing, creativity and communication would be desirable in a multitude of business environments.
Exam Information
The exam board we use is AQA.
The course will be assessed in the following way:
| Paper 1: The human body and movement in physical activity and sport |
Paper 2: Socio-cultural influences and well-being
in physical activity and sport |
Non-exam assessment:
Practical performance in physical activity and sport |
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What's assessed
•• Applied anatomy and physiology •• Movement analysis •• Physical training •• Use of data
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What's assessed
•• Sports psychology •• Socio-cultural influences •• Health, fitness and well-being •• Use of data
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What's assessed
•• Practical performance in three different physical activities in the role of player/performer (one in a team activity, one in an individual activity and a third in either a team or in an individual activity). •• Analysis and evaluation of performance to bring about improvement in one activity. |
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How it's assessed
•• Written exam: 1 hour 15 minutes •• 78 marks •• 30% of GCSE |
How it's assessed
•• Written exam: 1 hour 15 minutes •• 78 marks •• 30% of GCSE
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How it's assessed
•• Assessed by teacher •• Moderated by AQA •• 100 marks •• 40% of GCSE |
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Questions
•• Answer all questions. •• A mixture of multiple choice/objective test questions, short answer questions and extended answer questions. |
Questions
•• Answer all questions. •• A mixture of multiple choice/objective test questions, short answer questions and extended answer questions. |
Questions
•• For each of their three activities, students will be assessed in skills in progressive drills (10 marks per activity) and in the full context (15 marks per activity). •• Students will be assessed on their analysis (15 marks) and evaluation (10 marks) of performance to bring about improvement in one activity. |
Non-exam assessment (NEA): Practical performance in physical activity and sport
The non-exam assessment aspect of this course requires students to develop their ability and aptitude in physical activities, demonstrating appropriate skills and techniques. There are two aspects to the NEA:
- performance assessment (practical performance)
- performance analysis assessment (analysis and evaluation).
Performance assessment (practical performance) – 75 marks
Students are required to be assessed in three different activities in the role of player/performer only. One of these assessments must be in a team activity, one assessment must be in an individual activity, with the third assessment being in either a team or individual activity.
Students can only be assessed in activities identified in the AQA specification. Students cannot be assessed in any other activity.
Students can only be assessed once in any activity, including where an activity is included in both the individual activity list and the team activity list. E.g. they may not be assessed in both doubles tennis and singles tennis.
Students are required to be assessed on their skills in progressive drills (Part 1) and in the full context (Part 2) for each of their three activities.
Performance analysis assessment (analysis and evaluation) – 25 marks
Students are required to analyse and evaluate a performance in one activity from the specification. They may analyse and evaluate their own performance or the performance of another person, so long as it is in an activity that is from the specification. They should analyse and evaluate the performance to identify two strengths and two weaknesses. They then need to produce an action plan that suggests ways to improve upon the two weaknesses that they have identified.
This work will be completed in a written format.
