This GCSE in Physical Education will equip students with the knowledge, understanding, skills and values they need to be able to develop and maintain their performance in physical activities. Students will also gain understanding of how physical activities benefit health, fitness and wellbeing.

Component 1: Fitness and Body Systems

• This component assesses students’ knowledge and understanding of the factors underpinning physical activity and sport performance. Students will develop their theoretical knowledge and understanding of applied anatomy and physiology, movement analysis and physical training so that they can use this knowledge to analyse and evaluate performance and devise informed strategies for improving/optimising their own practical performance.

Component 2: Health and Performance

• This component assesses students’ knowledge and understanding of the factors underpinning participation and performance in physical activity and sport. Students will develop their theoretical knowledge and understanding of the contribution that physical activity and sport make to health, fitness and wellbeing and how these can impact on their own performance. Sports psychology will be introduced, with a focus on skill development, through relevant practice, guidance and feedback, as well as knowledge that learners can then apply to their own learning in practical situations in order to improve their performance.

Component 3: Practical Performance

• The purpose of this component is to test students’ skills in a range of practical performances. Students will be required to perform in three different physical activities in the role of player/performer. They will be required to demonstrate their skills in isolation/unopposed situations and demonstrate their skills in a formal/competitive situation while under pressure. Students must choose and perform three different physical activities; one team activity, one individual activity and one activity of their choice, either a team or individual activity. Students must participate in three separate activities.

Component 4: Personal Exercise Programme (PEP)

• The purpose of this component is to assess students’ skills in analysing and evaluating performance through a personal exercise programme (PEP) in order to improve/optimise performance in a chosen physical activity. Students will develop knowledge and understanding of the principles of training, relevant methods of training and use of data in order to analyse and evaluate their PEP. The PEP will cover a six- to eight-week period, and can relate to any physical activity of their choice from the activities list given in Component 3: Practical Performance.

• Component 1: Written examination: 80 marks – 1 hour 30 mins 36% of the qualification – 80 marks

• Component 2: Written examination: 1 hour and 15 minutes 24% of the qualification – 60 marks.

• Component 3: Practical Performance – Non-examined assessment: internally marked and externally moderated. 30% of the qualification – 105 marks (35 marks per activity).

• Component 4: Personal Exercise Programme (PEP) – Non-examined assessment: internally marked and externally moderated. 10% of the qualification – 20 marks

Successful completion of this course will enable you to progress to further education and study an A Level Physical Education and BTEC Sport. Sports science. Following a degree in physical education could give you a platform to any of the following careers: PE teacher, Physiotherapist, Professional sportsperson, Sports coach/consultant, Sports policy at local and national level, Diet and fitness instructor and a Personal trainer.

Exam Board: Pearson Edexcel Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9-1) in Physical Education (1PE0)