Male PE and School Sport student teaching children in outdoor classroom

BSc (Hons)

Physical Education and School Sport

UCAS Code: C610

Typical offer: 120 UCAS tariff points or equivalent

Duration: 3 years full time

Awarding body: Hartpury University

Apply for this course here: https://www.hartpury.ac.uk/university/courses/undergraduate/bsc-hons-physical-education-and-school-sport/bsc-hons-physical-education-and-school-sport-2023/

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Overview

Course overview

Make a difference to the lives of young people through physical education and school sport. Build the skills for a rewarding career, inspiring children to be more active, and improving their health and wellbeing through sport.

You’ll gain valuable experience in primary and secondary schools, as well as sports clubs. Work alongside and learn from experienced staff, and learn skills suited to a range of key stages and school types.

Immerse yourself in a campus that’s alive with sport, and take full advantage of our purpose-built outdoor classroom, and new £8.8m sports academy facilities. Benefit from partnerships with local organisations, including schools, sports clubs and national bodies.

Alongside your studies you’ll have the chance to strengthen your CV through additional qualifications, such as the FA Primary Teachers Award, hockey teacher’s award, as well as RFU coaching levels. You could also achieve the Level 5 Certificate in Primary PE Specialism.

This course is perfect if you want to encourage young people’s physical, social and emotional development, and to work towards becoming a teacher.

How to apply Contact us: +44 (0)1452 702244

What you'll study

This course offers a balanced range of theory and practical modules designed to give you an in-depth understanding of our national curriculum. You’ll study core modules designed to develop your skills in delivering high-quality PE across a range of activities, including: movement, games, swimming, and outdoor and adventure activities (OAA). You’ll also benefit from optional modules, allowing you to suit your interests and career goals, as well as field trips to education providers across the UK.

Optional modules change each year in line with student, industry and research demands - you'll find recent topics studied below. You can attend introductory sessions for optional modules before deciding which ones to study.

Level four (year one)

Your first year will focus on understanding and exploring the national curriculum and its development. You’ll also get hands-on experience teaching PE through core modules, developing the functional skills needed as a PE teacher. Focus on understanding the differences between teaching and coaching, whilst realising their value and importance to one another.

Compulsory modules

Learn about the national curriculum and education frameworks through a school placement.

Apply coaching theory to practice, evaluating your abilities.

Learn the key theories in sport and exercise psychology to understand behaviours.

Begin to understand the biological systems used during exercise.

Work with students from other sports science courses to gain research skills. Determine professional needs in preparation for a career in sport and exercise.

Optional modules

There are no optional modules during this year. Your learning is focused on compulsory modules to ensure you have a thorough understanding of key topics to prepare you for module choices in your subsequent years.

Level five (year two)

Start to tailor your learning as you gain experience of the different Key Stages. Advance your planning and teaching application through on-site practical experience and work placement. Explore learning theories and new teaching concepts, including the idea of physical literacy and learning through games. Use this year to reflect, appraise and refine your teaching and coaching practices.

Compulsory modules

Understand how school sports can work with school schedules to deliver better results for the pupils (School placement module).

Evaluate your ability to educate others.

Identify coaching practices most appropriate for children.

Understand how multidisciplinary teams work together in sport and exercise. An introduction to research methods and analysis required for future projects.

Optional modules

Focus on the exercise techniques designed to improve health.

A chance to independently review an approved topic area in line with the student’s programme of study.

This module allows students to the explore the principles and practices faced by entrepreneurs whilst working through the process of developing a new commercial venture. The assessment offers students the chance to engage with their own new business idea and present to both business professionals and academic staff in a ‘dragon’s den’ style pitch.

You will engage in a programme relevant study trip which will provide a context for you to synthesise content from across your programme of study and make applications and inferences to this real world setting, while expanding your horizons.

Students will develop an understanding of inclusive practice within sport, physical activity, and physical education.

This module provides students with the necessary theoretical knowledge and practical application to provide strength and conditioning provision to the youth population for both sporting and health purposes.

Level six (year three)

Your final year is your chance to focus on your particular areas of interest, preparing you for your future career. You’ll continue to refine and better your teaching practice through on-site practical experience and placement. Dive further into the breadth of the national curriculum, exploring modules such as reflective portfolio, where you’ll experience teaching swimming and trampolining.

You’ll also spend time working on your dissertation project. It’s a substantial research project exploring a topic of your choice. Placement opportunities within schools are often utilised to work collaboratively on projects relating to your dissertation.

If teaching is your goal, you’ll also use this year to start applying for teaching training routes, including PGCE’s. We’ll run a mock PGCE interview day to support you through this process. You can also use this year to tailor your studies to suit a career outside teaching, if that’s what you prefer.

Compulsory modules

Independent research and analysis in a related area of your choice.

Consider your own teaching experiences and the effective application of teaching standards.

Evaluate your abilities and develop a personal action plan.

Evaluate the leadership and management of sport science support within the performance environment.

Optional modules

Studying what we can learn from professional development in other sectors to develop coaching and teaching practice.

Students will develop a critical understanding of how exercise can be used to improve health within special populations as well as develop and implement an exercise programme for a client of their choice.

This module allows students to explore the growing influence of social media within the sports industry. Students will also analyse athlete social media content and consider their findings within the context of relevant contemporary research.

Please visit our document library for more module information.

Further module information

How you'll study

We're committed to supporting you to fulfil your unique potential, which is why you'll receive a minimum of 15 hours of scheduled teaching time per week in your first year - this is 25% above the UK average.

Your support network

You'll benefit from a strong support network from day one to be the best you can be. This will range from your personal tutor and specialist academic support team (our Achievement and Success Centre) to dedicated wellbeing and employability (Innovation, Careers and Enterprise) centres.

Your learning experiences

You'll experience a range of teaching methods to strengthen your digestion of topics, including lectures, workshops and practical sessions, as well as supported work placement learning as part of many courses.

Your career

Each year of your course will be made up of two semesters, within which you’ll study compulsory and optional modules on different industry-focused topics, enabling you to develop your own unique portfolio of knowledge, skills and experience, ready for your career.

Further details

You’ll have your own personal tutor while you’re here who will support you to succeed in your studies. You’ll also have access to our academic and wellbeing support teams who run regular workshops and one-to-one sessions on campus and online.

Alongside this, we have a comprehensive bank of online study skills resources to help you make the most of your qualification.

On successful completion of your modules you’ll gain academic credit that accumulates towards your award. The marks you gain in your second and third years may contribute towards your final degree classification.

The modules contain a mixture of scheduled learning – lectures, workshops and practical sessions – alongside independent learning. Students are expected to dedicate at least two to three hours of independent study per contact hour. Your course may also include work placement learning as part of some modules.

Year	Contact learning	Placement learning	Independent learning
Level four (year one)	30%	7%	63%
Level five (year two)	22%	7%	71%
Level six (final year)	18%	7%	75%

You’ll receive a minimum of 15 hours scheduled contact time per week in your first year. In subsequent years, scheduled contact will vary depending on the modules you select but is typically around 12 hours per week.

You will be assessed through a mixture of written exams, practical exams and written assignments. Many of the modules will be marked based on a mixture of assessment types, whilst others will be based solely on one type of assessment. Feedback will be given via a mixture of written bullet point-style feedback and/or oral feedback.

Year	Written exam	Practical exam	Coursework
Level four (year one)	13%	56%	31%
Level five (year two)	0%	38%	62%
Level six (final year)	13%	34%	53%

Each year of this course is taught over two semesters, normally consisting of 12 weeks of scheduled teaching and then assessment weeks, with an overview below:

Scheduled teaching takes place between 8:30 to 20:30 Monday to Friday
Wednesday afternoons are normally reserved for sports and cultural activities
Work placements may entail different days and hours
Part-time students may need to attend learning activities five days each week, depending on modules selected
Timetables are available during enrolment week

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Employability

Your career

Industry opportunities on this course are diverse to ensure you develop the skills, experience and connections needed for your graduate career. Many of our students secure graduate roles with their work placement employers.

Work placements and experience

Supported work placements are central to your learning and development on this degree. Over three years you’ll undertake up to 200 hours of professional experience in schools, school sports clubs or sports clubs.

Many of our students choose to work for one of our partner organisations including Active Gloucestershire, TT Adventures, Hartpury Primary School, Gloucester and Forest Alternative Provision School, Marling Grammar School and Badminton Independent School.

Others decide to gain experience through their own relationships further afield. Through the support of our ICE department and your tutor, we will support you to secure a placement to match your interests and career goals.

Field trips and guest lecturers

Field trips and industry professionals in lectures form an important part of your learning, enabling you to experience different businesses, careers and best practices.

Recent field trips have included a visit to the Malvern Hills, led by TT adventures. Here, students were able to upskill and gain valuable qualifications. A study trip module also sees you take students coasteering, and stand-up paddle boarding. It’s a chance to help plan and carry out a school trip (extra fees are required for this trip).

Graduate destinations

As a Physical Education and School Sport graduate you’ll have developed the knowledge, skills and experience needed to progress onto teacher training routes.

However, the programme isn’t limited to careers in teaching. The transferable skills you’ll acquire will open up other graduate careers. Our careers team can support you to find and prepare to secure your perfect role. Recent graduate destinations have included:

PGCE Primary and Secondary
Initial Teacher Training (School Direct)
Teaching assistant, primary school
NEAT training or community sports
Camp manager/physical activity leads, Just Camps
Postgraduate study, MSc Coaching Science
Postgraduate study MSc sports journalism
Police force

Facilities

World-class facilities

You’ll have access to a diverse range of facilities while you’re here, many of which are newly built and world class. Alongside lecture halls and workshop spaces, these include:

Sports hall

Our new £8.8 million Sports Academy boasts an impressive competition-sized Futsal court, making it an exciting and large teaching space in which to teach high-quality PE. With the added bonus of video capture, this is an excellent teaching space in which to reflect upon our teaching practice.

Laboratories

Our laboratories are modern and well equipped, providing the ideal spaces for scientific activities and research. Some are used for specialist microbiological culturing and analysis, others for biochemistry and physiology.

Outdoor classroom

Loved by all visiting schools, our outdoor classroom enables us to explore all areas of the national curriculum. It goes beyond just developing the physical domain, helping children to grow cognitively, socially and emotionally.

Study spaces

Our University Learning Centre has books, journals, ebooks, computers and breakout study spaces. In addition, we have a Study Lounge – an informal space with sports equipment, study booths and chill-out spaces to support both studying and relaxation.

Entry requirements

UCAS | A typical offer for this course is 120 UCAS tariff points or equivalent.
GCSE | A minimum of 5 GCSE A* to C, (or 9 to 4 where numeric grades are being awarded) or equivalent, to include English Language and Mathematics.
A-Level | Typical offer is BBB or equivalent. This must include a minimum of two A Levels including one in Biology, Sports Studies or PE subject at grade D or above.
Vocational Award | Typical offer is a DDM in an Extended Diploma in a relevant subject.
Access | Typical offer is 120 UCAS tariff points in an Access to Higher Education Diploma to include a minimum of a pass in Biology, Sports Studies or PE module at Level 3.
IB | Typical offer is 120 UCAS tariff points in an IB Diploma, to include a minimum of two Highers at H3 or above, including one in Biology, Sports Studies or PE subject.
This must also include Maths and English Language at a minimum of Standard Level S3 if equivalent GCSEs have not been obtained.
Scottish Highers | Typical offer is 120 UCAS tariff points in Scottish Highers. This must include a minimum of one Advanced Higher and one Higher including one in Biology, Sports Studies or PE subject.
Irish Leaving Certificate | Typical offer is 120 UCAS tariff points in the Irish Leaving Certificate. This must include a minimum of two Highers, including one in Biology, Sports Studies or PE subject at H4 or above. This must also include Maths and English Language at a minimum of Ordinary Level.
OCR Cambridge Technical | Typical offer is a DMM in a Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma in a relevant subject.
T level | Typical offer is Merit in you T Level overall grade in a relevant subject.
The minimum academic entry requirement for this programme is 96 UCAS tariff or equivalent providing this is combined with relevant experience.
We welcome students with equivalent qualifications. Please contact us to discuss.
We may interview mature applicants and those with non-traditional qualifications to ensure this is the right course for you.
Previous learning towards a university-level qualification or relevant work experience may count as credit for this course.
Please contact us for further information:

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Fees and funding

Tuition fees and financial support

Please visit our student finance page for information on tuition fees and student loans, as well as non-repayable grants, bursaries and scholarships, eligible to different groups, to support with study costs.

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Below, you'll find extra costs associated with studying this course.

Clothing and footwear

You’ll need to purchase appropriate clothing and footwear before you enrol, or during enrolment week. We’ll let you know exactly what you need to purchase in your enrolment guide – everything is available from our supplier’s online shop for approximately £100.

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Optional field trips (up to circa £150)

Many of the additional learning opportunities are included in the course fees. However, there are some modules where additional cost will be occurred.

Year 2 optional study trip: this trip looks at the safe planning and delivery of school trips. We visit and take part in several outdoor adventures activities such as coasteering and SUPing (subject to module choice availability for the academic year).

Performance Sports Academy membership

Find out costs and details for joining one of our performance Sports Academy teams.

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Hartpury gym

Find out about costs and details for joining the Hartpury gym.

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Accommodation and living costs

Please visit our student accommodation page for details.

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Top 10

We’re in the Top 10 UK universities for teaching quality (The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide, 2023)

Top 10%

We’re in the top 10% of UK providers for student satisfaction (NSS, 2020)

97%

97% of our sport graduates are in employment or further study (Graduate Outcomes, 2022*)

£8.8m invested

An £8.8m sports centre including some of the only equipment of its kind in the UK.

Quality

Additional qualifications including the Level 5 Certificate in Primary PE Specialism.

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More than just a degree

We develop passionate individuals on our degree programmes to coach, prepare and rehabilitate professional athletes, as well as change the lives of young people through community and school sports.

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Get in touch

We would love to hear from you, so please get in touch. You can ask a specific question or simply pop your details in to be kept up-to-date with news and events.

How to apply

You can apply for the BSc (Hons) Physical Education and School Sport degree course via UCAS.

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Success Stories

Sharing my passion

Gemma Sharples, Programme Manager

"I’ve been a professional athlete and I now want to share my passion and experience with future generations to develop healthy behaviours and to move more. Local schools bring their pupils to learn in the classroom, which provides unrivalled opportunities for our students to gain experience, ready for their careers."

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Inspiring future generations

George Miller, former professional footballer

"I want to get back into professional football while achieving a first-class honours degree, but I’ve learned that you never know what’s around the corner! I see myself teaching PE, ideally in a secondary school, which would mean going on to do my PGCE. Hopefully, I can become a role model like my PE teachers were to me."

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Further course details

For further details about this course, including the programme specification and module descriptions, please visit our document library.

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Your journey

We're here to support you on your journey to university and beyond. Our students tell us that they love the family feel and sense of belonging that we provide.

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Important information

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of our published course information, however our programmes are reviewed and developed regularly. Changes or cancellation of courses may be necessary to ensure alignment with emerging employment areas, to comply with accrediting body requirements, revisions to subject benchmark statements or as a result of student feedback. We reserve the right to make necessary changes and will notify all offer-holders of changes as and when they occur.

*Reflects activities after 15 months for those who graduated in 2020.