DfE announce outcome of the GCSE/AS/A level activity review

10/09/19

Today, 10th September, the Department for Education (DfE) will publish an update to the list of sports in which pupils can do the practical element of GCSE or A level Physical Education. The DfE has added ten sports and three activities to the current list of 48.

This will mean that exam boards have to offer these sports, although schools are not compelled to make the whole list of sports available to pupils.

This is the first time the list has been updated since 2015, and no sports are being removed. The current list is HERE and the full list of sports being added is:

• Acrobatic gymnastics
• Figure skating
• Futsal
• Ice hockey
• Inline roller hockey
• Sailing
• Sculling
• Triathlon (sprint triathlon at A/AS level only)
• Water polo
• Windsurfing

In addition, the DfE is adding the following disciplines under activities currently on the list:

• BMX cycling (racing only) – under cycling
• Long distance running (5k and 10k) and cross country running – under athletics

The update will take effect from the next academic year, September 2020.

School Standards Minister Nick Gibb said:

“Physical activity is very important for young people and I want to encourage more children and teenagers to exercise every day and to be active.”

 

“Extending the list of sports which pupils can use for GCSE, AS or A level P.E. opens the door to those qualifications for children across the country, dedicated to a sport they love, but who previously may not have thought of P.E. as an option. So just as someone who excels at football or rugby has always been able to translate that to school P.E., someone with experience in ice hockey or triathlon will now be able to do the same.”

 

“This is just the latest step we’re taking to encourage physical activity in schools, following the publication of our School Sport and Activity Action Plan earlier in the year. The plan is designed to give all children – particularly less active groups – greater opportunity to take part in competitive sport and be active every day, both inside and outside school. Extending this list will only further support that ambition.”

afPE’s CEO, Sue Wilkinson MBE said:

“afPE is pleased to see that additional activities have been added to the practical element of the PE GCSE and A level. The breadth of practical options now on offer, will give greater choice to those pupils who prefer less traditional activities and or may excel in one of the activities now on offer but had not considered PE as an option. Schools will need to consider any budgetary implications as well as professional development requirements and we hope that the awarding organisations will work with teachers to ensure that they have all the necessary resources to implement any new activity choices for the next academic year.”