Kingswood has over a decade's experience in delivering Physical Education at both GCSE and A level. The subject has developed into one of the most popular and successful option courses run at the School with examination results consistently significantly above the national average. The Physical Education staff have expertise in a variety of areas and this plays a significant part in enabling the students to achieve their outstanding results.

At GCSE we offer the Double Award which allows our students to achieve two GCSEs in the subject whilst also giving them a much better preparation for the A level course, should they decide to continue with the subject in the sixth form. The course is divided into two sections:

• Practical (60%) - which involves students demonstrating skills and performing in matches. The option of officiating or coaching in students chosen sports is now included.
• Theory (40%) - is divided into four sections:

1. Health related fitness

2. Principles of training

3. Factor affecting participation

4. Social and cultural factors

The A level course gives our students a chance to develop their officiating and coaching skills, whilst also demonstrating their practical ability in both practice and match situations. The theoretical side includes exercise physiology, skill acquisition and historical aspects which have influenced the variety of sports we play today. Qualitative and quantitative data analysis is a requirement of the course, and examination answers require both concise and essay-style responses. In the Upper Sixth, specifically, a greater emphasis is placed on elite performance, and high level performers will do particularly well in the practical element. However, the really successful students are the ones with a genuine passion for sport, who are prepared to work hard at all areas of the course and who keep informed about current affairs and news relating to the subject.

Guest speakers such as Brian Ashton, the former Bath and England Rugby Union coach, are often invited to give their insights into the various areas of the course and our students are frequently involved with clubs and sport outside School.

Successful students go on to study a wide range of courses at university. Dentistry, physiotherapy, medicine and psychology are just a few of the disciplines that our students choose, as well as the more obvious sport-based courses.