Program Overview

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BSc (Hons) Physical Education with QTS

Overview

The BSc (Hons) Physical Education with QTS degree is a fast-track route into teaching, taking just three years to become a fully qualified PE teacher in secondary education. If you want to inspire confidence in children to lead a physically active life while embarking on a rewarding teaching career, this course could be for you.

Why Us?

• Our BSc (Hons) Physical Education with QTS course has a 100% positivity score for how well teaching staff support students' learning (National Student Survey, 2024)
• All qualified teachers will have a starting salary of at least £31,650, and this will be higher for teachers working in London
• As well as classroom learning, practical sessions and assessments will form a significant part of this PE teaching course
• Workshops, masterclasses, and the chance to gain additional qualifications are available, depending on availability, from external bodies including the Football Association and England Cricket Board

Course Structure

This PE teaching course is taught via a mix of practical sessions, lectures, seminars, and workshops, as well as project and individual work.

You'll also undertake placements within a school which will enable you to get valuable hands-on experience to prepare you for becoming a PE teacher. Placements are available within both primary and secondary school settings.

Your progress on this Physical Education degree will be assessed by project work, practical assessments, essays, and observed placements.

Course Modules

Year 1 (national level 4):

• Introduction to Research, Scholarly Activity and Second Subject (30 credits) This module will provide you with guidance in the conventions of utilising research for academic writing and model academic skills including writing and presenting. You’ll develop essential skills for academic success and future employability, as well as enhance your professional development for continued lifelong learning. You’ll also study maths as a second subject, supporting your employment opportunities post-graduation.
• Introduction to Physical Education and Pedagogic Development (30 credits) In this module, you’ll develop emerging understanding of the various pedagogical approaches to the teaching and learning of young people in physical education and school sport, starting with a focus on the primary setting and concluding with secondary. You’ll examine key areas of consideration such as the national curriculum for physical education, high-quality PE, and fundamental principles of motor skills and their acquisition. You’ll also review emerging issues in relation to the current landscape of PE.
• Introduction to Physical Education and Performance Development (30 credits) You’ll acquire knowledge of the landscape of physical education and school sport in a practical setting in this module, starting with key stages 1 and 2 and concluding at key stage 3. You’ll apply your knowledge within a practical setting with a key focus on the national curriculum for physical education and selected aims of PE specifically. You’ll also take part in and deliver a series of PE lessons using the knowledge you’ve gained to exercise appropriate judgement in this context.
• Introduction to Teaching and Learning (30 credits) In this module, you’ll have the opportunity to apply subject, pedagogical, and theoretical knowledge gained in your university sessions to schools and other educational settings. You’ll be given the chance to apply this knowledge during your experiential placement, completing focused tasks and reflections during the placement.

Year 2 (national level 5):

• Principles of Research, Scholarly Activity and Second Subject (30 credits) This module will develop your essential skills for academic success and future employability. You’ll increase your awareness and understanding of the processes involved in learning and professional development for continued lifelong learning. The module will raise awareness of the PE profession and your career opportunities for a long and rewarding career. As part of the module, you’ll continue to study maths as a second subject, which supports your employment prospects post-graduation and equips you with the subject knowledge to deliver key stage 3 maths.
• Principles of Model-Based Pedagogy and Theoretical Approaches in PE (30 credits) In this module, you’ll enhance your understanding of the various pedagogical approaches to the teaching and learning of young people in physical education and school sport. You’ll explore key areas of consideration from a models-based approach including psychological perspectives like motivation and self-efficacy; sociological perspectives like occupational socialisation theory and social learning theory; and models-based approaches to delivering PE lessons like game-based approaches. You’ll also compare differing approaches of the holistic child.
• Principles of Contemporary PE Approaches in Practice (30 credits) You’ll extend your knowledge of the landscape of physical education and school sport in a practical setting in this module, with a focus on key stage 3. You’ll take part in and deliver a series of PE lessons using the knowledge you’ve gained to exercise appropriate judgement in this context. You’ll also reflect on your teaching practice both formatively and summatively, closing the feedback loop.
• Principles of Teaching and Learning (30 credits) This module will give you the opportunity to develop your subject, pedagogical, and theoretical knowledge gained in university sessions to schools and other educational settings. You’ll complete an assessed placement where you’ll start to make judgements about the routines, skills, and strategies that support effective teaching.

Year 3 (national level 6):

• Teaching National Qualifications in PE (30 credits) In this module, you’ll develop your classroom-based knowledge and delivery skills in relation to vocational and academic qualifications in the 14-18 physical education and sport curriculum. You’ll formulate lesson content from across a range of awarding bodies, then plan and implement a classroom-based lesson from the curriculum content available. The practical aspect of the module provides you with the opportunity to apply theoretical concepts to classroom situations.
• Enhancing Practice in PE (30 credits) This module will enhance your knowledge of the landscape of physical education and school sport in a practical setting with a focus on key stage 4. You’ll produce and deliver back-to-back lessons that account for the abilities of older pupils within the context of a PE lesson. You’ll also reflect on the teaching practice of others both formatively and summatively, actively becoming part of the feedback loop at what is often the pinnacle of PE and sport performance in school.
• Curriculum Project (30 credits) You’ll demonstrate your ability to engage with a small-scale action research project, undertaken in your placement school. The project will explore the impact of a specific pedagogic theory within your subject specialism, and you’ll acquire the knowledge and skills needed to carry out an investigation in your field of study. This project aims to show you the connection between academic enquiry and real-world issues, and you’ll develop key organisational skills, refine the standard of your written prose, and cultivate your communication skills with both your peers and the academic team.
• Developing Excellence in Teaching and Learning (30 credits) In this module, you’ll immerse yourself in teaching institutions to develop professional knowledge about teaching and learning, making judgements about the routines, skills, and strategies that support effective teaching. You’ll gain a variety of experience in a work-based learning environment to meet professional standards identified in government legislation. You’ll also consider the development of a variety of approaches to teach your subject specialism, formulating skillful questioning to reveal levels of pupil understanding, encouraging them to take responsibility for their own academic progress.

Facilities

Teaching will take place across both our campuses in Sunderland.

Many of your lectures and seminars will be held at Wearside View, situated on the award-winning Sir Tom Cowie Campus at St Peter's. This stunning riverside location benefits from a floodlit multi-use games area for practical sessions, dedicated library services, and has superb transport links with the city centre and City Campus.

Practical sessions will take place at CitySpace at our City Campus, which has recently benefitted from a multi-million pound refurbishment. It features state-of-the-art facilities including a sports hall, fitness suite, gym, strength and conditioning room, injury prevention and support suite, and a climbing wall.

Entry Requirements

We don’t currently display entry requirements for Ireland. Please contact the Student Admin team on or .

You must also have five GCSEs at grade C or above, and these must include mathematics and English language, or equivalent qualifications. If you've studied for a GCSE which has a numerical grade, you'll need to achieve a grade 4 or above. We'll only accept equivalencies from equivalencytesting.com.

Our admissions policy uses a range of flexible options to support you in studying with us. This may include a reduced offer of up to 16 UCAS tariff points, (or equivalent). Find out if you are eligible.

In addition to academic qualifications, you must also:

• Have an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
• Disclose any criminal convictions (required by DES Circular 9/93)
• Complete a medical pro forma (based on DFEE Circular 8/92).

Your numeracy and literacy competency will be assessed continuously throughout the course following the DfE’s removal of the Professional Skills Test.

If English isn't your first language, you'll also need International English Language Testing System (IELTS) at a score of 6.5 overall with 6.5 in writing and no other element lower than 6.0. Read more about our English language requirements.

You'll be assessed on your potential to learn and not your experience.

All successful applicants will be invited to an interview. Interviews start early November, so we recommend that you apply as soon as UCAS opens in October.

Fees and Finance

The annual, full-time fee for this course is:

• £9,535 if you are from the UK/Europe
• £16,500 if you are an international student

*Undergraduate fees are set according to rules from Government in line with forecast inflation. The fee for your first year of study for 2025/26 will be £9,535. You will pay tuition fees for every year of study. Fees may increase every year based on the Retail Price Index.

Read more about EU fees and funding in our Help and Advice article.

Take a look at the scholarships and bursaries that may be available to you.

This information was correct at the time of publication.

Career Ready

This Physical Education degree awards Qualified Teacher Status, which means that when you graduate you’ll be qualified to teach in any state-maintained school in England.

Good teachers are always in high demand, so it's likely you'll find a job upon graduation. All qualified teachers will have a starting salary of at least £31,650, and this will be higher for teachers working in London. The amount you earn will then increase until you reach the top end of your pay scale, after which you can choose to progress into more senior roles, such as leading practitioner or head teacher.

The teachers’ pension scheme is also one of the most generous public sector pension schemes in the UK, one of the few guaranteed by the Government.

Placements

Teaching placements are an essential part of this Physical Education degree and your PE teacher training. You'll spend at least 120 days working in schools and colleges, gaining a true understanding of what being a PE teacher involves, and using your new skills and knowledge. When you’re ready to start searching for a teaching job, you'll already have valuable first-hand teaching experience, as well as a wide network of professional contacts who can help you find the right career opportunities.