Sport Coaching and Physical Education

Do you want to help others discover the physical, mental and social wellbeing impacts of sport?

On this course, you will examine the theory of physical education, sport and coaching pedagogy across the education, leisure and community sectors. You will build on this with a focus on teaching and coaching, and our academic team will ensure you feel fully supported throughout the programme.

Teaching will be complemented by practical sessions using facilities including our sports hall and performance laboratories, as well as the Lake District. You will also complete approximately 50 hours of work experience in schools, clubs and community groups. We have strong links within the sport industry, including with professional sport clubs and national governing bodies of sport.

There is a strong focus on employability and personal enhancement throughout the course. You will have the opportunity to complete a series of additional qualifications, at no extra charge, which are highly valued by employers and will help you secure your dream job once you graduate.

Course Overview
This sport coaching and physical education degree, accredited by the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA), is designed so you can be supported by our expert lecturers to confidently step into your ideal future career and gain the knowledge required to make a difference.

A learn-and-do ethos sees teaching complemented by practical sessions while experience in schools, clubs and community groups provides real-world application. You’ll be supported by industry-sourced professionals and have access to our facilities, including a sports hall, performance laboratories, Salt Ayre Leisure Centre and Brathay Hall and Estate. You may also be eligible upon graduation for additional qualifications, including coaching awards.

You’ll have numerous career options upon graduation including sport coaching, teaching, sport development, performance analysis and event management.

What’s more, our sport courses are ranked 1st in the North West for continuation and 2nd in the North West for Career Prospects (Guardian University Guide 2023 Results).

On this course you will:

• Gain academic and vocational key skills through both classroom and community engagement projects linked to specific modules.

• Be taught in small class sizes which means you get to know your class and tutors well, allowing you to feel supported during your studies.

• Gain CIMSPA accreditation boosting your graduate prospects and gain free qualifications recognised by industry during your studies.

• Have access to an extensive range of partner organisations in sport including Active Cumbria, Active Lancashire and Golf England facilitating learning opportunities, guest speakers and placements.

• Follow the successes of our graduates who have pursued careers in PE teaching, sport development, event management, high-performance coaching and community coaching roles.

What you will learn
There are distinctive features of the programme:

Emphasis on experiential learning through its applied and vocational nature. You will study a range of disciplines, delivered with an applied focus on the complex reality which is modern physical education, sport coaching and sport development.

Flexible nature of the delivery of the programme, which utilises a range of learning strategies with an emphasis on the skills and practices involved in physical education, sport coaching and sport development, alongside an understanding of vocational practice.

Strong focus on employability and personal enhancement. You will be provided with the opportunity to achieve a vast range of additional qualifications throughout the entirety of the programme, free of charge.

You will make links with the careers team to discuss your skill development and to help you reflect on how these link to your employability, graduate skills and career development in your chosen future specialism.

Year one

• Personal & Professional Development
• Developing the Practitioner Toolkit
• Introduction to Sport Development
• Introduction to Sport Psychology
• Principles of Human Movement & Function
• Multi-Skills Development in Physical Education and Sport

Year two

• Delivering Sport and the Physical Education Curriculum
• Leadership and Relationships in Sport
• Work-Based Learning
• Investigative Techniques
• Developing Communities through Sport
• Field Based Conditioning for Sport

Year three

• Independent Investigative Project
• Outdoor and Adventurous Activities
• Club and Coach Development
• Performance Analysis in Sport

Modules use formative and summative assessment so you progress through modules build knowledge coherently and logically.

Formative assessments are designed so that feedback on your performance is provided before the submission of the final, summative assessment and will occur regularly to inform your progress and performance. Formative work does not contribute to the final module mark or the credit awarded. Formative tasks and assessments will feature in all modules and provide you with further learning opportunities, alongside skill development, for example, non-graded presentation skills, delivery and reflection.

A variety of assessment methods will be utilised, reflecting the multi-disciplinary nature of this programme and the increasing demand for employment-ready graduates. Assessment methods are specified in each module guide and will include:

• Practical presentations
• Research reports/written assessments.
• Data analysis and interpretation.
• Class presentations (individual and group).
• Poster presentations and conferences.
• Reflective learning *portfolios (placement module).
  *Portfolios may be comprised of several pieces of work that together provide evidence of learning and demonstrate achievement of learning outcomes in a variety of modes. For example, written pieces, video recordings of practical activities or presentations, PowerPoint slides and a series of reflections or online discussions, are just some of the ways you may evidence your learning.