Physical Education 

A-Level

Examination Board: OCR www.ocr.org.uk 

Course Leader: Mr R Myhill 

Course Contact: rmyhill@tgschool.net 

Specification number: H555 

Are you interested in:

• Sport in all its forms?

• Analysing and improving performance?

• Performing practically?

• Coaching and/or improving health and fitness in the community?

What will I study? 

By studying PE, students will discover how the body works, learn about the health benefits of physical activity and how performance can be enhanced, analysed and monitored. Topics include, sports psychology, nutrition, fitness, injury prevention, injury management and the sports industry. PE goes well with other subjects; for a career in a PE related area, you might also consider taking Biology or Psychology.

Component 1: Physiological Factors Affecting Performance 

This group of topics focuses on key systems of the human body involved in movement and physical activity. 

Candidates will develop their knowledge and understanding of the changes within these body systems 

prior to exercise, during exercise of differing intensities and during recovery. 

Application of this theoretical knowledge will enable candidates to understand how changes in physiological 

states can influence performance in physical activities and sport. Students will be expected to be able to interpret data and graphs relating to changes in these body systems during exercise of differing intensities and during recovery. 

Component 2: Psychological Factors Affecting Performance 

This component focuses on the psychological factors affecting physical activities and sports, including: models 

and theories that affect learning and performance in physical activities; how different methods of training and 

feedback work and why their effectiveness differs from person to person; group dynamics and the effects of leadership and stress on performers. Through the study of this component, students will gain a deeper understanding of the underlying psychological factors that influence our performance in physical activity and sport. They will learn how to apply the theories to practical examples, giving guidance and feedback in constructive ways that are suited to that individual’s personality; therefore assisting in developing practical performance in physical activities and sports. 

Component 3: Socio-cultural and Contemporary Issues 

This component 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. It includes the emergence and evolution of modern sport and how social and cultural factors shaped the characteristics of sports and pastimes in pre-industrial and post-industrial Britain. The impact of the modern Olympic Games will be understood as well as the impact on society of hosting global sporting events. The ever-evolving modern technology and its influence on sport performers and spectators will be understood and practical examples will be used by candidates to show the effect of modern technology. 

Component 4:Performance within Physical Education 

Learners will be required to undertake two parts within this component. 

Part 1: Performance/coaching of a sport or activity. 

Part 2: The Evaluation and Appreciation of Performance for Improvement (EAPI) of a sport or activity. 

This component is assessed via NEA. 

Additional Entry requirements: 

Grade 5 or above in GCSE PE. Students must be playing a competitive sport regularly outside of school.

Assessment:

Three examination papers 2x 1 hour and 1x 2 hours taken at the end of the two year course. 

Non- Exam Assessment (NEA). One practical performance, as either a coach or a performer in an activity. 

NEA. One Performance Analysis task. 

Leading to futures in: 

There are multiple career opportunities including sport science, physiotherapy, personal trainer, leisure management, sports journalism, coaching and teaching.

Mr K Alexander (KAL)	Director of Sixth Form
Miss K Benn (KBE)	Teacher of Dance
Mrs L Dalton (LDA)	School Games Organiser
Mrs B Leppard (BLE)	Teacher of PE
Mrs Z McKane (ZMC)	Teacher of PE
Mr R Myhill (RMY)	Head of PE
Mr W Ponsford (WPO)	Head of Peyton House
Mr B Richards (BRI)	Head of Tollemache House
Mrs K Thomas (KTH)	Teacher of PE