GCSE: Physical Education (Sport & Coaching) Coursework

GCSE PE: What Will I Study?

GCSE PE involves you studying how sport has an effect on society and on the individual. You may look at how different sports are run nationally and locally. You can examine how sponsorship works or if attempts to increase participation in sport are succeeding.

The practical side of GCSE PE will mean you devising training and coaching plans to improve skills in your chosen sport. This needn't be just football or netball, one GCSE PE exam board lists all these ;

The activity list has increased to include: Amateur boxing, American football, Handball, Ice hockey, Ju-jitsu, Polo, Tae kwon do, Ice dance, Clay pigeon shooting, Cross country, Cycling, Lawn bowls, Mountain biking, Surfing, Wake boarding, Water skiing, and Fitness Training options (yoga, body pump and pilates)

Good luck trying to get your PE teacher to organise that surf trip to Morocco!

Almost all GCSE PE students will have to create a Personal Exercise Plan or PEP. This involves you analysing your fitness and skills and working out an exercise regime that will help you improve. It may be aimed at just getting fitter or be targeted at a particular sport. We have lots of examples of these in our GCSE PE coursework database.

Most GCSE PE courses also look at the effects of exercise on the body - this can link with your studies in GCSE Biology or GCSE Health and Social Care, as you'll look at bones, muscles and the heart and lungs as well as the importance of exercise in keeping people healthy.

GCSE PE... What Comes Next?

A Level PE is one possibility. There is also a huge range of vocational courses available for those who want to work in training and coaching. You could think about employment in a gym or health studio. With more studying you could become a physiotherapist or nutritionist. Or you could train hard, sign for Real Madrid and earn £200,000 a week!

External links to more information about GCSE PE.

Help with choosing your options (and more).