BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Sport.  This vocational course is equivalent to two A Level subjects and students who study BTEC Sport will typically do so alongside the study of one other A Level subject. Students on the BTEC pathway will receive all of the other elements that characterise the Sixth Form at New Hall, including the supportive tutor system, our comprehensive and engaging Horizons and PSHE programmes, the ability to study the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), Sport afternoons and the wide range of co-curricular opportunities.

The BTEC Sport pathway offers students who are interested in Sport another option for their studies within the Sixth Form. The course is assessed partly by formal examination (45%) and partly by internally assessed coursework (55%) and as the programme is modular, each unit can be resat up to a maximum of three attempts over the two years of Sixth Form. This specification also covers a broader range of areas within Sport, including careers within the Active Leisure Industry and has a greater focus on practical application of Sport theory and on wider employability skills.

Importantly, the BTEC Diploma in Sport, when studied alongside an A Level subject will facilitate entry onto courses at all the major universities within the UK, including Sport-related courses at Loughborough University. Please note that some universities, including Loughborough, will only recognise BTEC qualifications if they are studied alongside an A Level.

Admission onto the BTEC Sport pathway will be determined on a case-by-case basis, however it is expected that students will achieve at least a grade 5 in an essay-based subject and will have a proven track record of involvement in Sport. The study of GCSE PE is recommended but is not mandatory. Students will also need to meet the entry requirements for whichever A Level they wish to study alongside the BTEC Sport course and, as in all cases, must demonstrate high standards of behaviour.

What is the course content and assessment structure of BTEC Sport?

The BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Sport consists of 6 mandatory and 3 optional units. Each unit is assessed either by formal externally assessed examinations (worth 45% of the course) or internally assessed coursework assignments (worth 55% of the course). Examination units can be sat in either January or June and students can resit each assessment up to a maximum of three attempts per paper. All units are theory based but include practical elements to help develop your understanding of the content you learn in the classroom. Students who perform better in coursework than examinations will likely perform better in BTEC Sport than in A Level PE. Your sporting ability is not assessed in BTEC Sport, only your understanding of the theory and your ability to apply this knowledge in practice.

How is A Level PE different to BTEC Sport?

A Level is a linear course, where you will be required to study for two years and sit a series of terminal examinations at the end of that period. Alongside these examinations, you are practically assessed (30% of your final grade) and must be competing at a minimum of club level, ideally academy, county, regional or national level in your chosen sport. The A Level PE course is also more heavily weighted towards Anatomy, Physiology and Exercise Physiology (Science), and will therefore suits students who enjoy and have strong subject knowledge in the Sciences at GCSE.

BTEC is classified as a vocational course whereby students complete work unit by unit. Units are exam or coursework based. In BTEC you build up a portfolio of marks as you work your way through and you are able to resit assessments. In BTEC Sport you are required to participate in sport and practical lessons, however, your level of practical competency is not assessed. The BTEC Sport also covers Anatomy and Physiology, however this is a smaller proportion of the overall grade. BTEC Sport also includes units that explore the Active Leisure Industry, career development and employability skills, such as CV writing and interview technique.

What are the entry requirements?

Candidates for BTEC Sport should have achieved a minimum of a Grade 5 in an essay-based subject. They must also meet the requirements for one other A Level subject at New Hall, which will be taken alongside the BTEC Diploma.

How can I use BTEC Sport in the future?

Many BTEC Sport students will progress on to university to study a Sport-related course such as Sports Science, Sports Coaching, Sports Therapy or Physiotherapy.

The BTEC Diploma in Sport, alongside one other A Level, facilitates entry to all major Sport-related courses in the UK, including Loughborough University. Please note that some universities, including Loughborough, will only accept a BTEC qualification if it is taken alongside at least one A Level.

Furthermore, as the BTEC Diploma in Sport is taken alongside one other A Level, it also serves to facilitate entry to a much wider range of courses and areas of further study. Whether the area of study is linked to Sport, the subject area of the A Level or any other field, the BTEC Diploma will count towards any  university offer in the same way as any other two A Level subjects would.

The course is also an excellent foundation for those wishing to directly enter the workplace, due to the greater focus on employability skills.