GCSE Physical Education
GCSE Physical Education is a popular option for those students that have a strong grasp of theoretical content as well as being competent performers in a range of physical activities. Throughout Year 10 and Year 11 students build up their level of understanding of the content and develop the skills they need to succeed in Physical Education. Students are assessed in three practical activities of which at least one must be a team and one must be an ‘individual’ activity. The exam board studied is AQA and students study the following range of topics, although the order of activities may vary:
 

Year 10

• Seasonal aspects
• Effects of exercise
• Warm up and cool down
• Preventing injury
• Aerobic and anaerobic activities
• EPOC and recovery
• Components of fitness and fitness testing
• Types of training
• High altitude training
• Principles of training
• Training intensities
• SMART targets
• Skill and ability
• Classification of skill
• Arousal and aggression
• Personality types and types of goals
• Information processing model
• Types of guidance and feedback
• Conduct and motivation
• Health and wellbeing
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Obesity and somatotypes
• Energy use and nutrition
• Social groups
• Use of data
• Practical moderations

Year 11

• Pathway of air
• Gaseous exchange
• Mechanics of breathing
• Blood vessels
• Structure of the heart
• Cardiac cycle and cardiac output
• Commercialisation
• Sponsorship
• Technology
• Performance Enhancing Drugs
• Spectator behaviour
• Lever systems
• Planes and axes
• Use of data
• Practical moderation
• Analysis and evaluation of performance coursework