Curriculum
Broad General Education
Physical Education will enable learners to develop the skills, knowledge and understanding required to perform effectively in a wide range of physical activities. Learners will work both independently and co-operatively to develop thinking and interpersonal skills. This makes Physical Education an ideal platform for developing confidence, resilience, responsibility and working with others.
All pupils will have Physical Education embedded as part of their core curriculum during the BGE and this will enable them to:
- develop a broad and comprehensive range of complex movement and performance skills, and demonstrate them safely and effectively across a range of challenging contexts
- select and apply skills and make informed decisions to effectively perform in physical activities
- analyse mental, emotional, social and physical factors that impact on performance
- understand how skills, techniques and strategies combine to produce an effective performance
- analyse and evaluate performance to enhance personal effectiveness
Opportunities for Learners
Learners will be able to:
- improve their own health and wellbeing
- develop, demonstrate and evaluate performance
- use evaluation and analysis to develop and apply strategies, techniques and skills that will enable them to build on and enhance their performance
Senior Phase
National 4 / 5 / Higher
All National Qualifications in PE have 2 internal units and 2 assessment tasks that pupils must pass to gain an overall award. They all follow the same structure but with varying levels of achievement. Course activities include Basketball, Volleyball, Hockey, Gymnastics, Badminton, Athletics, and Football.
Assessment Task 1 – Performance [50% of Grade]
Pupils will select two activities. This activity will be assessed in a one off performance situation, replicating the conditions of performing an exam question paper. Normally the activity will be selected from one of the course activities, however if a candidate has a particular strength in another area, every effort will be made to use this.
The assessment looks at performance repertoire, consistency, fluency and control, decision making, problem solving, rules and etiquette.
Assessment Task 2 – One task from below depending on your level of study [50% of Grade]
Assessment Task – Factors Impacting on Performance Booklet
In this Unit, learners need to achieve a pass in all 3 outcomes within one activity.
Pupils will choose an activity and follow the cycle of analysis to develop performance in one area. They will evidence their data collection, development programme, and data monitoring contributing towards improvement in performance using one of the 4 factors that impact on performance. (Mental, Emotional, Social, and Physical)
Assessment Task – National 5 Portfolio
At National 5 pupils will have the year to complete a portfolio both in class and at home. This is a project covering the Factors Impacting on Performance and Cycle of Analysis (detailed above) which will be sent to SQA for marking.
Assessment Task – Higher
In Higher pupils will have an SQA exam in May. This comprises of 4 questions, one on each of the 4 factors and will be related to the Cycle of Analysis.
Advanced Higher
Pupils should have one activity where they have trained / competed / specialised at club level.
Performance is worth 30% of the overall grade.
A 5,000 word assignment is submitted to SQA for the remaining 70%
Personal development options include
- Sports Leadership Awards at Level 4 and Level 5
- Sports Coaching Certificates in Basketball and Badminton
- Higher / Advanced Higher performance only units
- Sports Officiating / Football Refereeing
Learning Experiences
Experiential learning activities will encourage learners to develop the skills, knowledge and understanding of the benefits to mental, emotional, social, and physical wellbeing of participation in physical activities. Learning about Physical Education is enhanced by participating on a regular basis in a wide range of purposeful, challenging, progressive and enjoyable physical activities with personalisation and choice built in for all learners.
Life & Work
Studying Physical Education can lead you to positive destinations in numerous careers, such as:
- First Aid Trainer
- Fitness/Sports Instructor
- Health Mentor
- Lifeguard
- Personal Trainer
- PE Teacher
- Physiotherapist
- Sports Centre/Gym Administrator
- Sports Centre/Gym Manager
What Can I Do? – College Examples
- NQ Sport & Fitness
- HNC/HND Fitness Health & Exercise
- HNC/HND Sports Coaching with Development of Sport
- NQ/HND Professional Stage Dance
- NQs in Instructing Exercise & Fitness; Exercise with Music
What Can I Do? – University Examples
- BSc Applied Sport & Fitness
- BEd Physical Education
- BEd Primary Education
- BSc Sport & Recreation Management
- Sports Science
- Physiotherapy
