Sport

About the Curriculum

The College offers the BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Sport as a Sixth Form option. The PE Department introduced this popular course for the first time in 2015. The course offers a broad array of sport-related topics and practical opportunities that are solely coursework based with no final exams.

Students can build their qualifications in stages and take responsibility for their own learning by planning their work, completing research and reviewing their progress under the supervision of departmental staff. The course has flexibility to allow students to specialise in certain areas like performance and coaching or to complete differing levels with corresponding credit point values.

Assessment includes practical, written work, presentations and report writing that requires students to read, research, keep records, plan, produce drafts, present work and meet deadlines. All units have either 5 or 10 maximal credit point values earned through the awarding of a pass, merit or distinction which are then collated from all units studied to give an overall score. It is anticipated that over a two year course of study, students will complete the Level 3 Diploma in Sport across 13 units which is broadly equivalent to two A Levels (120 credit points). A 60 credit point subsidiary Diploma in Sport will run over one year and provide one A Level equivalent.

Planned topics include compulsory units in physiology, fitness testing and training, sports development, coaching and practical individual and team sports. Optional units depending on pathways chosen could include sports injuries, analysis of performance, officiating and sports psychology.

Students undertaking the course are likely to have completed a GCSE in Physical Education but more importantly have experience performing practically at a high level and are independent, reflective learners who think creatively.


Community Sports Leadership Awards

These courses are being offered to Sixth Form students who would like to become more efficient in and accredited for leading sporting activities. Basic principles of planning, preparing, communicating and delivering sporting sessions are developed in a practical qualification where candidates learn through doing, rather than through written work. A candidate's ability as a competent leader is assessed by observation rather than written tests in this nationally recognised qualification. A recognised First Aid qualification is built into the Community Sports Leadership course.


Careers

BTECs can be taken alongside traditional A Levels and earn equivalent UCAS points towards university applications.

Students completing the course will have an excellent grounding for many related careers and further study. Employment within sports and outdoor educational facilities for coaching, instruction and management are possible or further study at university could be pursued in performance and excellence, sports science, psychology or therapy, management, marketing and media or beyond this into physiotherapy or business to name but a few. The Diploma in Sport also fulfils many requirements of a well-rounded university application.