National 4/5 Physical Education

Course Title: National 4 Physical Education

Structure

This Course sits within a hierarchical structure, beginning with the National 3 Physical Education Course, and progressing through National 4 and National 5 Physical Education to Higher and Advanced Higher Physical Education.

Course Title: National 4 Physical Education

Purpose of the Course

• The main purpose of the Course is to develop and demonstrate movement and performance skills in physical activities. By engaging in physical activities, learners can demonstrate initiative, decision-making and problem-solving.

• The Course also encourages learners to develop a positive attitude towards a healthy lifestyle, and the contribution that physical activity makes to this. The skills that learners acquire by successfully completing this Course are transferable to learning, to life and to the world of work.

Aims of the Course

The main aims of the Course are to enable the learner to:

• develop the ability to safely perform a range of movement and performance skills in straightforward contexts
• develop and demonstrate knowledge of factors impacting on performance
• build capacity to perform effectively
• develop approaches to enhance personal performance
• monitor, record and reflect on performance development

The Course has two mandatory Units and an Added Value Unit:

Physical Education: Performance Skills (National 4)

The general aim of this Unit is to provide learners with the opportunity to develop and demonstrate a range of movement and performance skills in physical activities, in straightforward contexts. Learners will develop and be required to demonstrate some consistency in their control, fluency of movement and body and spatial awareness. They will also learn how to respond to and meet the physical demands of performance in a safe and effective way and must provide evidence for this.

Physical Education: Factors Impacting on Performance (National 4)

The general aim of this Unit is to provide learners with the opportunity to explore and develop their knowledge of factors that impact on personal performance in physical activities. The will have to demonstrate the knowledge that they have learned through the completion of written answers during class time. Learners will be re required to demonstrate that they can record, monitor and reflect on the development of their own performance.

Added Value Unit: Physical Education: Performance (National 4)

Learners will prepare for and carry out a performance, which will allow them to demonstrate challenge and application.

Evidence Requirements for the Unit AV

This Unit will be assessed through controlled assessment. The learner will apply knowledge and skills from across the Units. The learners will participate in their chosen activity in a more competitive/demanding performance environment, such as a tournament or competition, a swimming gala, or a gymnastic display. This will be completed in school. Evidence will be internally marked by centre staff in line with SQA guidelines. All marking will be quality assurance by SQA.

Conditions of award

To achieve the National 4 Physical Education Course, learners must pass all of the required Units, including the Added Value Unit.

National 4 Courses are not graded.

Information about typical learners who might do the Course

This Course is suitable for learners who have an interest in and enthusiasm for developing their movement and performance skills in physical activities, and who enjoy learning in practical contexts. It is also suitable for learners who have achieved the National 3 Physical Education Course.

The Course will help learners to develop decision-making, problem-solving and interpersonal skills, which are transferable to other life and work contexts.

Progression

This Course or its Units may provide progression to:

• National 5 Physical Education Course

 

 

Course title: National 5 Physical Education

SCQF: level 5 (24 SCQF credit points)

Structure

This Course sits within a hierarchical structure, beginning with the National 3 Physical Education Course, and progressing through National 4 and National 5 Physical Education to Higher and Advanced Higher Physical Education.

Purpose and aims of the Course

The main purpose of the Course is to develop and demonstrate movement and performance skills in physical activities. By engaging in practical activities, learners can demonstrate initiative, decision-making and problem solving.

The main aims of the Course are to enable the learner to:

• develop the ability to safely perform a comprehensive range of movement and performance skills
• understand factors that impact on personal performance in physical activities
• build capacity to perform effectively
• develop approaches to enhance personal performance
• monitor, record and evaluate performance development

The Course encourages learners to develop a positive attitude towards a healthy lifestyle, and the contribution that physical activity makes to this. The Course also provides an opportunity to support the way that individual attitudes, values and behaviours are formed. The skills, knowledge and understanding that learners acquire by successfully completing this Course are transferable to learning, to life and to the world of work.

Pupils likely to take the course

Pupils wishing to enter into the study of physical education at a certificated level are expected to have an interest in and enthusiasm for developing their movement and performance skills in physical activities. They should also enjoy learning in practical contexts. Pupils will receive a weekly classroom period and should be serious about developing their knowledge in the subject.

 

Mandatory Units

Physical Education: Performance Skills

The general aim of this Unit is to develop learners’ ability to perform in physical activities by enabling them to acquire a comprehensive range of movement and performance skills. They will learn how to select, use, demonstrate and adapt these skills. Learners will develop consistency in their control and fluency during movement to enable them to meet the physical demands of performance in a safe and effective way.

Pupils must meet the required standard for National 5 in a minimum of two activities in order to pass this Unit of work.

Physical Education: Factors Impacting on Performance

The general aim of this Unit is to develop learners’ knowledge and understanding of the factors that impact on performance in physical activities. Learners will consider the effects of mental, emotional, social and physical factors on performance, and will develop an understanding of how to plan for, monitor, record and evaluate the process of personal performance.

Pupils must meet the required standard for National 5 in their written work; assessed through a workbook where pupils are required to write written responses on different bodies of knowledge.

 

Assessment

There is no final exam associated with National 5 Physical Education. Pupils undertake a portfolio and have a final practical assessment with both added together to form the pupils overall grade from A-D. A breakdown of how the marks are awarded can be found below.

• Portfolio – 40 marks (sent to SQA and externally marked)
• Performance – 60 marks (10 marks planning and preparation, 40 marks performance and 10 marks evaluation – marked internally and quality assured by SQA)

Conditions of award

To gain the award of the Course, the learner must pass all of the Units as well as the Course assessment.

Progression

This Course or its Units may provide progression to:

• Higher Physical Education Course
• employment or training