GCSE PE

GCSE PE will enable students to engage in a practical course, designed to encourage students to be inspired, motivated and challenged by the subject and enable them to make informed decisions about further learning opportunities and career pathways.

Students will acquire the knowledge, understanding, skills and values to develop and maintain their performance in physical activities and understand the benefits to health, fitness and well-being. Students will develop theoretical knowledge and understanding of the factors that underpin physical activity and sport and use this knowledge to improve performance. Students will perform effectively in different physical activities by developing skills and techniques and selecting and using tactics, and strategies. They will develop their ability to analyse and evaluate to improve performance in physical activity and sport.

The subject content focuses on five key areas:

  1. Health, training and exercise
  2. Exercise physiology
  3. Movement analysis
  4. Psychology of sport and physical activity
  5. Socio-cultural issues in sport and physical activity.

Unit 1:

Introduction to Physical Education
Written examination: 2 hours
50% of qualification
100 marks.
Students will learn:
  • Factors that underpin participation in physical activity and sport
  • How physiological and psychological state affects performance
  • Key socio-cultural influences which can affect involvement in sport
  • Diet and Nutrition
  • Drugs in Sport
  • Gender in Sport
  • Technology in Sport
  • TV/Media in Sport

Unit 2:

The Active Participant in Physical Education
Non-exam assessment
50% of qualification
100 marks.

Three different activities in the role of performer which students will be assessed on:

  • One individual sport
  • One team sport
  • One either of the above

One activity will be a major activity which students will complete a written piece of coursework in the form of a personal fitness programme linked to the student’s major activity/sport.

More information can be found at: https://www.wjec.co.uk/qualifications/physical-education-gcse
PE Specification/ course content
Students Resources
Past Papers