Physical Education Department
GCSE Physical Education Course
Introduction
The PE Department has been successfully running the GCSE Physical Education course for the past two years. The number of students on the course has been growing and this is in line with the development of the course in other countries.
GCSE Physical Education has been available for a number of years in the UK and it has been a very popular choice for many students. It is widely recognised by all British Universities equally with other GCSE subjects.
Aims of the Course
- The main aims of the course are to encourage students to:
- Adopt a healthy lifestyle
- Improve their sporting skills
- Develop their fitness
- Develop good sporting behaviour as competitors and as spectators
- Exercise safely
- Learn about personal hygiene and improve the posture
Course Content
The Physical Education GCSE course has both a practical and a theoretical component.
The practical part of the syllabus includes the teaching of four sports, which will be selected from at least two of the following categories:
- Athletics
- Games
- Swimming
- Dance
- Outdoor Pursuits
- Gymnastics
- Fitness Activities
In each sport, students have the opportunity to improve their skills, to apply these skills in competition and to increase their understanding of systems and tactics. In addition, students study the rules and develop basic coaching skills in each activity.
The theoretical part of the syllabus includes three main sections. In the Anatomy and Physiology section, students study how the body works. The syllabus includes bones and joints, muscles and the circulatory and respiratory systems. The second section examines the adaptations of the body to training and considers the effect of correct nutrition and the importance of personal hygiene. The reasons for participation in sport are also studied, together with various methods of training. The third section, covers some common sports injuries and some basic first aid.