Sport and Physical Activity Level 3 Extended Diploma

Extended Certificate

 

In the Extended Certificate (1 A Level) course, students study the following units:

Body Systems (External Exam)

Sports Organisation (External Exam)

Sports Coaching & Leadership (Internal Assessments)

Performance Analysis* (Internal Assessments)

Organising Sports Events* (Internal Assessments)

Practical Skills in Sport* (Internal Assessments)

 

*Subject to change

 

 

In the Extended Diploma (3 A Level ) course, students study the following units:

Body Systems (External Exam)

Sports Organisation (External Exam)

Sports Business (External Exam)

Working Safely in Sport (External Exam)

Sports Coaching & Leadership (Internal Assessments)

Performance Analysis (Internal Assessments)

Organising Sports Events (Internal Assessments)

Practical Skills in Sport (Internal Assessments)

Working in Active Leisure (Internal Assessments)

Group Exercise to Music (Internal Assessments)

Exercise for Specific Groups (Internal Assessments)

Improving Fitness (Internal Assessments)

Health & Fitness Testing (Internal Assessments)

Nutrition (Internal Assessments)

Sports Injuries (Internal Assessments)

Biomechanics (Internal Assessments)

Sport Psychology (Internal Assessments)

 

Extended Diploma

The main common misconception of this course is that it gives students an opportunity to “play sport”. This is a Further Education level qualification focused on studying sport, physical activity and health. Practical sessions do not take the form of Core PE lessons, where taking part in different sports is the focus. Instead, practical sessions are based around teaching students how to coach and lead activity, how the human body moves and how to analyse performance. This would not be an appropriate pathway for those who’s interest in sport is solely from a participating basis, as an interest in studying a variety of fields is required.

Students on the Extended Diploma (3 A Levels) pathway have the opportunity to complete the Level 2 Group Instructor course, for a significantly reduced price and with a significantly reduced amount of work, whilst studying at the college. This course is delivered externally with our CIMSPA-endorsed local partners at T2 Fitness. This qualification is the entry-level qualification required for any jobs within the fitness industry. The discounted price and shortened version of the course is only avaialble to Extended Diploma students currently, due to the vast amount of units that are delivered in the bigger course that have been accepted as "Recognised Prior Learning".

Additionally, courses in Football coaching, safeguarding, first aid and Dodgeball leading have all been recently offered and/or delivered to Sport and Physical Activity students, however these are subject to availability and cost.

There is no difference in terms of academic level between the two courses, the only difference is how much of your study programme is dedicated to Sport & Physical Activity.

If you elect to study the 1 A Level pathway, you will study a smaller version of the course with less units. However, you will be able to mix this course with two other A Levels at the college, from the wide variety of courses on offer.

If you elect to study the 3 A Level pathway, Sport and Physical Activity will make up your full programme of study at the college and you will not study any other subjects.

Yes, you will gain a huge amount of industry experience on this course.

We host and lead many primary school events every year, such as Sports Hall Athletics, Dodgeball and Panathlon. Usually, our Extended Diploma (3 A Level) students deliver these events, as we have greater flexibility and control over timetables of groups that have Sport and Physical Activity as their full programme of study.

In addition to these annual competitions, we also arrange participatory festivals as part of the Organising Sports Events unit, which is studied on both versions of the course. Here, students have full control over the activities being delivered, health and safety requirements, marking material and event logistics, providing an excellent opportunity to plan, organise and lead an event of their choice.

Furthermore, Work Experience is a vitally important aspect of this course. Extended Diploma (3 A Level) students are expected to accumilate and log 300 hours of Work Experience in roles related to the course, across their two year programme. Extended Certificate (1 A Level) students are expected to accumilate and log 100 hours of Work Experience in roles related to the course, across their two year programme. Whilst students are expected to source their own Work Experience, many opportunities are advertised to them due to our vast network of organisations and many industry qualifications are made aware to students, who can log any form of sport-related work or training as Work Experience. Events delivered at the college count towards Work Experience hours, as well as guest speakers, trips and University visits. The more skills and experience students can gain whilst studying this course, the greater their chance of securing successful careers within the industry.