Course content

Sport and Physical Education is designed to develop knowledge and understanding of the factors influencing performance in a variety of activities and how performance may be improved through analysis and practice. You will study how the body and mind work in Physiology, Biomechanics and Psychology.

In the first year there are three main areas of study, each of which will ask you to focus upon your own exercise and performance patterns. The first of these takes a Physiological approach to understanding exercise and performance. The second looks at Skill Acquisition and a Psychological approach to enhancing performance. In the third area of study you’ll learn how Historical, Cultural and Social factors influence people’s participation in Sports. In addition you will be required to perform and/or coach and/or officiate within a chosen sport to allow you to put the theory into practice.

In the second year of the course you will follow a similar programme of study but the emphasis will change from your own performance to that of an elite athlete and looking at how they maximise their performance levels.

Every opportunity will be taken to put theory into practice and you will be expected to involve yourself in practical experiments and demonstrations - so there will be opportunity to get your kit on and get out of the classroom.