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What makes Physical Education at Worcester special?

The degree is specifically designed to meet the changing needs of the Physical Education profession and has a broad range of modules that will prepare you for a career in teaching or supporting the delivery of Physical Education and extra-curricular activities.

The innovative and flexible approach to the curriculum design enables you to explore a range of different subjects throughout your degree. The content will ensure that you graduate with key knowledge of the delivery of all areas of the Physical Education National Curriculum, including Outdoor Adventure Activities, Athletics, and Dance.

During your first year (level 4) you will study fundamental modules common across PE, coaching and development. The broad based start to your degree provides opportunity for you to be confident in your choice as you gain more knowledge and learn about your degree subject. The course design however facilitates the flexibility for you to progress onto one of the related degrees at the end of level the first year.

The innovative design of the degree also enables you to specialise, if you wish, at level 6. You will have the opportunity to study and research modules in Adapted PE, resulting in your final award of BSc (Hons) Physical Education (Adapted PE) as your named degree.

The course is delivered by a team of highly experienced and enthusiastic Physical Education practitioners, committed to ensuring a quality experience that will provide you with the tools to become an effective and employable graduates. Throughout the course, you will take part in lectures, seminars, practical workshops and work placements, gaining valuable experience in primary and secondary schools and other community settings. The application of pedagogical practice is a key part of the course.

Progressing from this course, you will be in a strong position to apply for a Qualified Teacher Status course such as the Post Graduate Certificate of Education, or to move onto one of our Master's courses.

Overview

Overview

Key features

  • First year modules common across PE, Coaching, Development pathways offering flexibility on completion of level 4
  • Opportunities to teach children from all key stages and ability levels
  • Opportunities to specialise in Adapted PE
  • Excellent facilities including state of the art inclusive University Arena, 3G AstroTurf, dance studio, outdoor educational site including lake and outdoor activity centre, S&C suite and gymnasium
  • Opportunity to gain additional qualifications, such as a variety coaching awards.
  • Sports-related volunteering and Earn as You Learn opportunities
  • The opportunity to study abroad for one semester
a group of students are sitting and chatting

It’s not too late to apply!

You can still apply to study with us after the January UCAS deadline. Don’t be tempted to rush an application together as fast as you can, you still want to make sure your application and personal statement are as good as possible.

Your teachers can still write you a reference after the January deadline so make sure to let them know you’re applying to university

Register your interest

Enter your details below and we will keep you up to date with useful information about studying at the University of Worcester.


Top 25% satisfaction

Our Sports courses are ranked in the top 25% of UK universities for overall student satisfaction (NSS 2022)

100% satisfaction logo

This course received 100% overall student satisfaction (NSS 2022)

"The whole degree was underpinned by a feel good factor where lecturers and students were in an environment which allowed for excellent teaching and learning in an enjoyable atmosphere."

Matt Craig, 3rd year PE and Sports Studies student

Entry requirements

What qualifications will you need?

104
UCAS tariff points

Entry requirements

104 UCAS Tariff points (for example, BCC at A Level), and GCSE English and Mathematics at Grade C/4 or above

A Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check is required for this course

Other information

If you have any questions about entry requirements, please contact the Admissions Office on 01905 855111 or email admissions@worc.ac.uk for advice.

Further information about the UCAS Tariff can be obtained from the UCAS website.

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Luke Skidmore

“I feel a big sense of relief mixed with a lot of pride to have got a First Class Honours in Physical Education,” he said. “It was such a great three years at Worcester, I am just so happy to finish it with a First.”

“When the pandemic hit the content shifted to being delivered online,” he added. “The PE staff team were amazing at adapting their delivery and just being there and supporting us in general. I think the support offered to ensure we finished our degree made it a much more comfortable process.”

Luke, originally from Birmingham, is now completing his PGCE and teacher training at Exeter University.  He added: “Hopefully this time next year I will be working in a school as a fully qualified teacher. Moving to Devon was a long-term goal and eventually I would love to live and work by the sea.”

The staff have been second to none and their support throughout the entirety of the course has been invaluable.

Katie Potter, 3rd year PE and Sports Studies student

Course content

What will you study

The modules for this course are currently being reviewed and updated for 2023 entry; for the latest information please contact the course leader.

Year 1

Mandatory

  • Principles of Inclusive PE and Coaching

  • Physical Activity, Health, Wellbeing and Games

  • Scientific Principles of Teaching and Coaching

  • Adapted Physical Activity, Sport and Disability

Optional

Year 2

Mandatory

  • Learning and Teaching through Games
  • Advanced Scientific Principles in Teaching and Coaching
  • Creating Successful Research

Optional

Year 3

Mandatory

  • Independent Research Project in Sports Physical Education OR Independent Research Project in Adapted Physical Education
  • School-Based Placement OR Professional Placement

Optional

  • 14-19 PE and Sport

  • Leading and Developing PE in Primary Schools

  • Engaging Young People in Physical Activity

  • Group Dynamics in Sport

  • Contemporary Issues in Disability Sports Coaching and PE

Teaching and assessment

How will you be taught?

The University places emphasis on enabling students to develop the independent learning capabilities that will equip you for lifelong learning and future employment, as well as academic achievement.

A mixture of independent study, teaching and academic support from Student Services and Library Services, and also the Personal Academic Tutoring system, enables you to reflect on progress and build up a profile of skills, achievements and experiences that will help you to flourish and be successful.

Teaching

You are taught through a combination of interactive lectures, seminars and practical workshops. These approaches enable the discussion and development of understanding of topics covered, through group work, question and answer, planning tasks, sharing of ideas, presentations, etc. whilst also developing subject specific skills.

There are many opportunities to work with pupils from schools across the region in order to develop your understanding of teaching and to evaluate different strategies used.

There is also a school based or professional placement in your final year where you will experience being in one school or work environment in order to consolidate many of the skills developed throughout the course

Contact time

In a typical week, you will have around 12-16 contact hours of seminars, practical workshops and group work but this will vary according to the modules you are following. The precise contact hours will depend on the optional modules selected and in the final year you will normally have slightly less contact time in order to do more independent study. Typically contact time will be structured around:

  • lectures
  • seminars in groups of approx 20 - 25 students
  • practical workshops

Independent self study

In addition to the contact time, you are expected to undertake around 24-28 hours of personal self-study per week. Typically, this will involve completing online activities, reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking research in the library and online, preparing coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for examinations.

Independent learning is supported by a range of excellent learning facilities, including The Hive and library resources, the virtual learning environment, and extensive electronic learning resources.

Duration

  • 3 year full-time
  • 4-6 years part-time
  • 4 years full-time including one year placement

Teaching staff

You will be taught by a teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on the course. The team includes senior academics, and professional practitioners with both breadth and depth of industry experience.

On occasion, Postgraduate research students who have undertaken teacher training, may also contribute to the teaching of seminars under the supervision of the module leader. Teaching is informed by research and consultancy, and majority of School of Sport and Exercise Science lecturers have a higher education teaching qualification or are Fellows of the Higher Education Academy. You can learn more about the staff by visiting our staff profiles.

Assessment

The course provides opportunities to test understanding and learning informally through the completion of practical or 'formative' assignments.

Each module has one or more formal or 'summative' assessments which are graded and count towards the overall module grade. Assessment methods include a range of coursework assessments such as essays, reports, portfolios, performances, presentations and a final year independent studies project.

The precise assessment requirements for an individual student in an academic year will vary according to the mandatory and optional modules taken, but a typical formal summative assessment pattern for each year of the course is:

Year 1

  • Written work, including essays, portfolios, reports
  • Individual or group presentations
  • Practical performances and teaching related tasks

Year 2

  • Written work, including essays, portfolios, reports
  • Teaching episodes
  • Presentations and practical performances
  • Planning documents

Year 3

  • Independent study project
  • Placement portfolio
  • Lesson observation analysis
  • Individual or group presentations

Feedback

You will receive feedback on all summative assessment pieces and on some formative assessment tasks. Feedback is intended to support learning and you are encouraged to discuss it with your Personal Academic Tutors and module tutors as appropriate.

We aim to provide you with feedback on submitted summative assessment work within 20 working days of hand-in.

Programme Specification

For comprehensive details on the aims and intended learning outcomes of the course, and the means by which these are achieved through learning, teaching and assessment, please download the latest programme specification document.

Find your passion

Meet the team

You will be taught by a teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on the course. The team includes academics as well as professional practitioners with educational experience from primary, secondary and special schools. Guest speakers are also invited in for lectures and seminars in at least once per module.

Teaching is informed by research and the majority of permanent lecturers have a higher education qualification or are Fellows of the Higher Education Academy. 

richard-pepperell

Richard Pepperell

Richard has 15 years’ experience teaching Physical Education and sport in the secondary and further education sectors.  He has a real passion for education and sport education in particular focussing on providing people with the skills and desire to be active and healthy for their entire lives.

Richard enjoys participating and spectating almost every sport but in particular, rugby, triathlons and gymnastics.

helen-hope

Helen Hope

Head of Department for Sport Development, Management and Therapy.

Helen Hope is a Principal Lecturer in Physical Education. Before joining the University in 2005 she had taught in secondary schools for ten years and was Head of a PE department for five years. She has previously led the PGCE PE teacher training programme for three years before moving into teaching on the Undergraduate Modular Scheme (UMS) course. She became a Head of Department in September 2015 and leads on Student Retention for the School.

Helen prides herself in demonstrating excellence in teaching and learning and has won and been nominated for various Student Choice Awards. Helen has a keen interest in transformational learning, blended teaching approaches and the use of authentic assessments, ensuring that students are able to apply their learning in real-life situations. As Retention lead she has developed new processes and systems to ensure that students are supported in their personal learning journeys.

lerverne-barber

Lerverne Barber

Lerverne is Associate Head and Principal Lecturer with responsibility for Learning, Teaching and Student Experience (including Recruitment, Retention and Achievement), within the School of Sport and Exercise Science (SSES).

She is a member of the Senior Management Team in SSES and has been part of the Physical Education (PE) teaching team for more than ten years, having been PE Course Leader from 2008 - 2011. Lerverne has a wealth of experience in her subject area, having been a Secondary PE teacher, PE adviser and Ofsted Inspector. She has also worked as an Independent PE Consultant leading projects and delivering training for organisations such as the Youth Sport Trust, the Qualification and Curriculum Authority and the Department for Education.

Lerverne has played a key role in developing the School's international profile in countries such as China and Japan, for work in inclusive sport and Physical Education. In 2011 she became a University of Worcester Teaching Fellow for excellence in learning and teaching and in 2015 she achieved the award of Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy for her leadership of learning and teaching (SFHEA), followed by the award of National Teaching Fellow (NTF) in 2017.

charlotte-beaman-evans

Charlotte Beaman-Evans

Charlotte is a Senior Lecturer in Physical Education and the Sports Scholarship Coordinator at the University of Worcester. Before joining the University, she was previously a teacher of Physical Education in a secondary school.

Charlotte is now embarking upon a career in Higher Education having completed her MSc in Sports Coaching Science and Post Graduate Certificate in Higher Education.

A keen sports player Charlotte has played a range of sports including rugby, football and hockey, achieving international status in rugby.

karen-broughton

Karen Broughton

Karen is a Senior Lecture and Course Leader of the Physical Education and Outdoor Education BSc at the University of Worcester. Karen previously worked for The Youth Sport Trust as a Programme Manager for PE, where she led on developing and delivering resources, professional learning and materials to support both primary and secondary teachers of PE.

Prior to that Karen taught PE for 9 years in a number of high schools across Worcestershire and was a member of the Worcestershire Local Delivery Agency for PE, which involved delivering and developing professional learning opportunities for primary and secondary teachers.

Rebecca Foster MBE in sports attire smiling at camera

Rebecca Foster MBE

Rebecca Foster MBE has been teaching PE predominantly in the North of England for over 20 years. Rebecca was Head of PE of one of the first six Sports Colleges in the country. After 7 years of teaching she backpacked the World and did some temporary teaching in Australia and South Africa. After her year out Rebecca continued to teach in Yorkshire, managing one of the largest Sports Partnerships in the country. Rebecca then went on to become a Teacher Fellow at Leeds Beckett University, where she taught Initial Teacher Training programmes for Secondary and Primary trainees.

Rebecca competed for our country in the Heptathlon (when she was much younger!) and holds a Level 2 multi-event license. She volunteered for UK Deaf Athletics for 12 years, being Team Manager and travelling coach at three Deaflympics.  She currently is a trustee for Deaf Direct based in Worcester and is a support worker for a few hours a month to vulnerable young people.

As a further accolade, Rebecca has been awarded an MBE in recognition for her services to inclusive sport and supporting young people to achieve their potential.

Careers

Where could it take you?

In 2018, 95% of Physical Education Graduates were in full time employment or further study 6 months after completing their degree.

A high number of graduates go on to study a Post Graduate Certificate of Education (PGCE) either for secondary Physical Education teaching or Primary teaching. However the content of the course develops a wide range of employability skills, enabling Graduates to enter into a broad range of different professions including, Sports Administration Development, Sports Activity Leader, Social Media Marketing Co-ordinator; Sports and Disability Inclusion Coach; Recruitment Consultant Specialist and many more.

Two students are walking next to each other and smiling

Careers and Employability

Our Graduates pursue exciting and diverse careers in a wide variety of employment sectors.

Find out how we can support you to achieve your potential.
Costs

How much will it cost?

Full-time tuition fees

UK and EU students

The standard fee for full-time home and EU undergraduate students enrolling on BA/BSc/LLB degrees and FdA/FdSc degrees in the 2023/24 academic year is £9,250 per year.

For more details, please visit our course fees page.

International students

The standard tuition fee for full-time international students enrolling on BA/BSc/LLB degrees and FdA/FdSc degrees in the 2023/24 academic year is £14,700 per year.

For more details, please visit our course fees page.

Part-time tuition fees

UK and EU students

The standard tuition fees for part-time UK and EU students registering on this course in the academic year 2023/24 are £1,156 per 15-credit module, £1,542 per 20-credit module, £2,312 per 30-credit module, £3,083 per 40-credit module, £3,469 per 45-credit module and £4,625 per 60 credit module.

For more details, please visit our course fees page.

Additional costs

Every course has day-to-day costs for basic books, stationery, printing and photocopying. The amounts vary between courses.

If your course offers a placement opportunity, you may need to pay for an Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check.

All Physical Education and Sports Coaching students are expected to wear School of Sport and Exercise Science branded sports kit. This includes a polo top, t-shirt and a hooded sweatshirt and costs approximately £85.

Accommodation

Finding the right accommodation is paramount to your university experience. Our halls of residence are home to friendly student communities, making them great places to live and study.

We have over 1,000 rooms across our range of student halls. With rooms to suit every budget and need, from our 'Traditional Hall' at £122 per week to 'En-suite Premium' at £207 per week (2023/24 prices).

For full details visit our accommodation page.

Sports Scholarships

At Worcester we are committed to supporting elite and talented sports performers who are dedicated to both sporting and academic success. Our sports scholarships are available for a range of team and individual sports. For further information, visit our sports scholarships pages.

How to apply