BA (Hons) Sport and Physical Education

Why study this subject?

Positive experiences at an early age help build the foundations for an active life. If children and young people have experiences that feel fun, positive and give them a sense of confidence, they’re more likely to want to be active in the future.

You could be a part of this in a career delivering sports education to children and young people, either as a PE teacher, sports coach or working in the community.

With the right teaching and hands on learning experiences, you could turn your passion for sport education into a rewarding and successful career.

Why study at Buckinghamshire New University?

This course is aimed at providing exciting career opportunities for those wanting to become a PE teacher. It offers a route towards Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).

You’ll develop knowledge of the fundamentals of physical education and youth sport, including applied coaching, child development, sports and education policy and practice, and sport science.

We’ll provide you with the knowledge and experience you’ll need to not only successfully apply for teacher training, but you’ll develop transferrable skills to work in the public, private or voluntary sectors.

If you’re interested in a career in physical education teaching or youth sport, this course will set you up perfectly to fulfil your dream of creating high quality sport and physical education experiences for children and young people.

By studying this course at BNU, you’ll be given the opportunity to gain National Governing Body qualifications in a variety of sports as well as apply for work experience within local schools, colleges, sports clubs and societies.

At BNU, you’ll also get access to:

• an outstanding gym, sports hall and facilities to enhance your experience
• a modern, well-resourced human performance lab
• a development coaching curriculum, including industry recognised awards
• an extensive student support system to strengthen your learning
• strong links with an outstanding network of schools and colleges.

What facilities can I use?

Our Human Performance, Exercise and Wellbeing Centre includes an indoor three-lane running track that incorporates 3D motion-capture technology. This facility helps to enhance athletes’ performance through improved technique, and also assists with injury prevention and rehabilitation.

The Human Performance laboratory is also equipped for assessing a range of physiological, biomechanical and psychological parameters.

What will I study?

In this course, you’ll explore the national curriculum at primary and secondary school level, including major games, dance, outdoor and adventure activities.

You’ll learn how to be a community sports coach, thinking about key youth sports issues like sustaining sports participation into adulthood, the obesity crisis and the need to promote physically active lifestyles.

Across your three years here, you’ll study areas like sports coaching, games in sport and education, sports and society, diversity and wellbeing, biomechanics, child development, energy and nutrition, strategies in youth sports and outdoor education.

In your final year, you’ll also work with a personal tutor to produce your final dissertation project which will reflect an area within sport and physical education that you’re particularly passionate about.

How will I be taught and assessed?

The BA (Hons) Sport and Physical Education course is practice-based and you’ll be taught through a combination of practical classes, workshops, lectures and seminars with a contemporary focus on coaching and physical education.

Assessment is 100% coursework based and will include essays, reports, case study analysis, presentations, portfolios and reflective writing.

There will also be an ongoing assessment of transferrable skills such as session planning, delivery and adaptation.

Collaborative working is incorporated too to help you engage in more complex projects, getting you familiar with how you’ll work with teammates and colleagues in your future career.

Placements Plus

BNU is a Placements Plus university. So, whatever degree you do, you can be sure there’ll be plenty of industry-relevant opportunities on offer, to help you get into your chosen field.

We’ll also prepare you for work beforehand, with special skills for work training, further boosting your CV, and building skills employers will value. In recognition of the value we place on these skills we have incorporated this experience into your study time.

Placements Plus is all about helping you get some valuable experience under your belt while you’re a student, to increase your choices later, and help you get the graduate-level job you want.