Year 11 – Depending on subject selection most students have 1 X 35 minute PE session and 1 X 65 minute Games session per week. During Games sessions our traditional major sports, rugby and hockey, are played on a Tuesday afternoon.

Year 12 – These students have one session of Physical Education a week, a 65-minute session on a Wednesday afternoon, when a variety of activities are available. Participants in our major sports, rugby and hockey, use this session for training and fixtures, while students who do not participate in our major sports have the opportunity to avail of a variety of sports and fitness options. These include swimming, gym, badminton, shooting, netball, running club, tennis, athletics, football and golf. Our excellent facilities on site and Dungannon Leisure Centre are both used during senior games, giving our students the best possible opportunities.

Our GCSE Physical Education CCEA specification develops students’ understanding of health, physical fitness and the role of the active leisure industry in improving health and fitness. Students learn about how the body works, the factors that can affect health, and how to plan and lead a healthier lifestyle.

The course has a large physical component. Students are required to participate in and are assessed in 3 different sports – so students must be fit and healthy and able to participate actively in strenuous physical activity. The course is divided into 3 components.

Component 1: Written paper 1 hr 15 minutes = 25%
Factors Underpinning Health and Performance:

• The Body at Work
• Health and Lifestyle Decisions
• The Active Leisure Industry

Component 2: Written paper 1 hr 15 minutes = 25%
Developing Performance:

• Developing Physical Fitness for Performance; and
• Developing Skilled Performance.

Components 1 & 2 combine to give 50%

Component 3: Perform 3 activities and analyse one = 50%

1. a)   Pupils are assessed on the consistent quality, efficiency and effectiveness of their performances in physical activities and/or sports.  Pupils perform three physical activities and/or sports from the list that CCEA supplies.  (3 × 50 = 150 marks)
2. b)   Pupils are assessed on the consistent quality of their analysis and evaluation of their own and others’ performances.  (50 marks)

Years 13 & 14 –  As with Year 12, these have one session of Physical Education a week, a 65-minute session on a Wednesday afternoon, when a variety of activities are available. Participants in our major sports, rugby and hockey, use this session for training and fixtures, while students who do not participate in our major sports have the opportunity to avail of a variety of sports and fitness options.

These include swimming, gym, badminton, shooting, netball, running club, tennis, athletics, football and golf. Our excellent facilities on site and Dungannon Leisure Centre are both used during senior games, giving our students the best possible opportunities.

Pupils have the option to select PE at AS and A2 Level.  They follow the WJEC GCE AS and A Level in Physical Education. The course is made up of two parts: AS and A2. Pupils may take the AS as a stand-alone qualification if they wish. To achieve the full GCE pupils must complete both AS and A2. AS and A2 each comprise two units. There are four units in total.

AS Level

Unit 1 – develops pupils’ theoretical knowledge and understanding of exercise physiology, performance analysis and training, sports psychology, skill acquisition and sport in society. Pupils are assessed on this material through a written examination.

Unit 2 – is a practical element linked to improving pupils’ performance in physical education. Pupils are assessed in one chosen activity as a player/performer and as a coach or official. Pupils will also complete a personal performance profile. This personal performance analysis must be of the chosen practical activity. It must be underpinned by appropriate theoretical subject content and provide pupils with the opportunity to demonstrate quantitative skills.

 Course Content/Assessment

A2 Level

Unit 3 is designed to develop pupils’ theoretical knowledge and understanding of exercise physiology, performance analysis and training, sports psychology, skill acquisition and sport in society. Pupils are assessed on this material through a written examination.

Unit 4 concentrates on refining personal performance in physical education. It involves being assessed in one practical performance as a player/performer, coach or official. Pupils will also undertake some Investigative Research. This research should help the pupil to improve personal performance as a player/performer, coach or official. It must be linked to the chosen practical activity and contain research into appropriate theoretical subject content.

AS will be assessed at the end of Year 13 and A2 at the end of Year 14.