BTEC Nationals in Sport 

These courses offer pupils with a genuine interest in sport, as well as those looking to develop breadth in their options, the opportunity to study a challenging course combining both academic and practical skills. The course is split into assignment-based assessments and external exam units, which can be taken at least twice over the course duration. If all goes to plan, you might not have any BTEC exams in the summer of the Upper Sixth, allowing you to focus your revision on your other A Level subjects.

Pupils opting for the BTEC course will benefit from gaining employability skills alongside academic study. Problem-solving, intra and inter-personal skills feature highly in this course in addition to the ability to read technical texts, analyse and write effectively. 

Extended Certificate (Equivalent to 1 A Level) 

ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY – EXAM UNIT

  • The muscular system  
  • The respiratory system  
  • The cardiovascular system  
  • The energy systems  
  • The skeletal system  

Opportunity to take the exam up to three times in the two year period

FITNESS, TRAINING AND PROGRAMMING FOR HEALTH SPORT AND WELLBEING – EXAM UNIT  

  • Lifestyle factors  
  • Screening processes  
  • Nutritional needs  
  • Components of fitness  
  • Designing training programmes  

Scenario released a week before the exam
Opportunity to take notes into the exam

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE SPORTS INDUSTRY – COURSEWORK UNIT 

  • Career and job opportunities in sport  
  • Using a skills audit form to create a career development plan  
  • Undertake a recruitment activity to understand the processes related to a successful job offer in a chosen career pathway  

Three assignments (one related to each area)
Opportunity to complete assignments to a pass, merit/distinction grade
Ongoing teacher support throughout all assignments
Opportunity to resubmit assignments career and job opportunities in sport

APPLIED FITNESS TESTING – COURSEWORK UNIT  

  • Principles of fitness testing  
  • Factors affecting administration of tests  
  • Validity, reliability and suitability  
  • Perform a range fitness based tests, working with elite athletes  compare results and set targets  

Three assignments (one related to each area) 
Opportunity to complete assignments to a pass, merit/distinction grade
Ongoing teacher support throughout all assignments
Opportunity to resubmit assignments

National Level 3 Sports Diploma (equivalent to 2 A Levels)

This course runs in parallel in the timetable with the Extended Certificate.

For the National Diploma Level 3, you must study nine units over the two years. Some units are mandatory, some units are optional and four of the units are the same as the units studied in the Extended Certificate.

Mandatory Units: Optional Units (choose three):
  • Anatomy and Physiology – Exam Unit
  • Fitness Training and Programming – Exam Unit
  • Investigating Business in Active Sport and Leisure – Exam Unit
  • Professional Development in the Sports Industry
  • Sports Leadership
  • Skill Acquisition in Sport
  • Application of Fitness Testing
  • Sports Psychology
  • Practical Sports Performance
  • Coaching for Performance
  • Research Methods in Sport
  • Sports Events Organisation
  • Research Project in Sport
  • Sports Injury Management

Ms Amelia Pine – Head of Physical Education