Higher Physical Education

Why Physical Education?

This course offers you the opportunity to study Physical Education at a challenging level and to build on previous skills and performance. It makes an important contribution to a balanced education and may help you to progress to further education or employment. The course aims to develop individual abilities and to enhance your personal and social development.

The primary focus of Higher Grade Physical Education is performance.

The course has been designed for students who are:

·         Already good practical performers

·         Serious about training

·         Interested in how to improve performance

Higher Grade Physical Education is about improving personal performance in physical activities with a thorough understanding of how this is achieved rather than improving personal fitness levels.  In Higher Grade Physical Education, performance can be viewed, appreciated, judged, appraised or evaluated and improved in a systematic way.

Entry to the Course

This is at the discretion of the school/college but you would normally be expected to have attained one of the following

·         Standard Grade Physical Education at Credit level

·         Intermediate 2 Physical Education units or course

·         Other relevant prior experience in physical education, including experience gained outwith certificated courses.

Course Outline

The course consists of two units which are not taught separately but with an integrated approach. There is an additional 40 hours flexible time.

Physical Education: Performance (60 hours)

This unit builds on your previous performance to improve skills and techniques in a minimum of two activities.  The activities within the Higher course are Basketball, Badminton, Swimming and Hockey.

Physical Education: Analysis and Development of Performance (60 hours)

The Unit is designed to enable candidates to gain an understanding of:

·         The processes involved in observing and explaining performance

·         The body of underpinning knowledge that can be used to inform training and develop performance

There are four Outcomes

·         Analyse performance in an activity 

·         Use knowledge and understanding to analyse performance

·         Monitor a programme of work

·         Evaluate the analysis and development process

Core Skills

·         H Problem Solving (Critical Thinking, Planning and Organising, Reviewing and Evaluating)

Assessment

The course is assessed by a combination of internal assessment by the teacher and an external examination of the Analysis and Development of Performance Unit

Progression

Successful completion of this course may lead to:

Advanced Higher in

·         Physical Education

A Scottish Group Award at Higher in

·         Performing Arts: Dance

·         Sport and Leisure

Education (HNC/HND/Degree); Employment in

·         Performing Arts

·         Sports and Leisure.

Further advice and information on these options is available from your subject teacher, guidance teacher/adviser and careers adviser.