Sport - BTEC Level 3 Extended Certificate

Applications Open: 21st November 2025 (9.00am)

Applications Close: 13th February 2026 (4.00pm)

How to apply:

- All INTERNAL applicants MUST apply via Applicaa using this link (coming soon!)

- All EXTERNAL applicants MUST apply via Kent Choices using this link https://www.kentprospectus.co.uk/login

- All correspondence between learners and the school after an application is made will be via Applicaa.

- All applicants (internal and external) will be invited in for a 1-1 guidance meeting.

- Those who have a successful guidance meeting will be offered a place to study at St John's Sixth Form from September 2026.

Why choose Sport?

Do you want to turn your passion for sport into a career?

If you are interested in any of the following careers this course is for you:- Sports coach, fitness instructor, PE teacher, leisure industry, sports nutritionist, sports psychologist, sports therapist, outdoor education instructor

This national extended certificate offers a specialist qualification that focuses on key knowledge and practical skills that are required to progress to higher education and employment with the sports sector.

The course is the equivalent of 1 A-level at grade A* (distinction*), A (distinction), C (Merit) or E (Pass)

You will study four components that are both internally and externally assessed; these are:

Unit 1- Anatomy & Physiology

A: The effects of exercise and sports performance on the skeletal system

• Structure of skeletal system
• Function of skeletal system
• Joint
• Responses of the skeletal system to a single sport or exercise session
• Adaptations of the skeletal system to exercise
• Additional factors affecting the skeletal system

B: The effects of exercise and sports performance on the muscular system

• Characteristics and functions of different types of muscles
• Major skeletal muscles of the muscular system
• Antagonistic muscle pairs
• Types of skeletal muscle contraction
• Fibre types
• Responses of the muscular system to a single sport or exercise session
• Adaptations of the muscular system to exercise
• Additional factors affecting the muscular system

C: The effects of exercise and sports performance on the respiratory system

• Structure of the respiratory system
• Function
• Lung volumes
• Control of breathing
• Responses of the respiratory system to a single sport or exercise session
• Adaptations of the respiratory system to exercise
• Additional factors affecting the respiratory system

D: The effects of sport and exercise performance on the cardiovascular system

• Structure of the cardiovascular system
• Function of the cardiovascular system
• Nervous control of the cardiac cycle
• Responses of the cardiovascular system to a single sport or exercise session
• Adaptations of the cardiovascular system to exercise
• Additional factors affecting the cardiovascular system

E: The effects of exercise and sports performance on the energy systems

• The role of ATP in exercise
• The ATP-PC (alactic) system in exercise and sports performance
• The lactate system in exercise and sports performance
• The aerobic system in exercise and sports performance
• Adaptations of the energy system to exercise
• Additional factors affecting the energy systems

Unit 2- Fitness Training & Programming for Heath, Sport & Well-being

A: Examine lifestyle factors and their effect on health and well-being

• Positive lifestyle factors and their effects on health and well-being
• Negative lifestyle factors and their effects on health and well-being
• Lifestyle modification techniques

B: Understand the screening processes for training programming

• Screening Processes
• Health monitoring tests
• Interpreting the results of health monitoring tests

C: Understand programme-related nutritional needs

• Common terminology
• Components of a balanced diet
• Nutritional strategies for individuals taking part in training programmes

D: Examine training methods for different components of fitness

• Components of fitness to be trained
• Skill-related fitness
• Training methods for physical fitness-related components
• Training methods for physical fitness-related components
• Muscular strength training methods
• Muscular endurance training methods
• Core stability training methods
• Flexibility training methods
• Speed training methods
• Training methods for skill-related fitness components
• Agility training methods
• Balance training methods
• Balance training methods
• Reaction time training methods
• Power training methods

E: Understand training programme design

• Principles of fitness training programme design

Unit 3- Professional Development in the Sports Industry

A: Understand the career and job opportunities in the sports industry

• Scope and provision of the sports industry
• Careers and jobs in the sports industry
• Professional training routes, legislation, skills in the sports industry
• Sources of continuing professional development (CPD)

B: Explore own skills using a skills audit to inform a career development action plan

• Personal skills audit for potential careers
• Planning personal development towards a career in the sports industry
• Maintaining a personal portfolio/record of achievement and experience

C: Undertake a recruitment activity to demonstrate the processes that can lead to a successful job offer in a selected career pathway

• Job applications
• Interviews and selected career pathway-specific skills

D: Reflect on the recruitment and selection process and your individual performance

• Review and evaluation
• Updated SWOT and action plan

Unit 4- Sports Leadership

A: Understand the roles, qualities and characteristics of an effective sports leader

• Different leadership roles
• Skills, qualities, characteristics and application
• Importance and effective use of skills, qualities and characteristics when leading

B: Examine the importance of psychological factors and their link with effective leadership

• Psychological factors that could impact on leadership
• Leadership and psychological factors

C: Explore an effective leadership style when leading a team during sport and exercise activities

• Expectations of leadership
• Practical skills required for different leadership styles
• Leading a sport and exercise activity
• Effectiveness and impact of leadership on a sport and exercise activity

Externally Assessed

Unit 1: Anatomy and Physiology

• Written examination set and marked by Pearson.
• 1.5 hours.
• 90 marks.

Unit 2: Fitness Training and Programming for Health, Sport and Well-being

• Programming for Health, Sport and Well-being
• A task set and marked by Pearson and completed under supervised conditions.
• In Part A, learners will be given a case study one week before a supervised assessment period in order to carry out preparation.
• In Part B, the supervised assessment period is 2.5 hours as timetabled by Pearson.
• Written submission.
• 60 marks.

Other units are internally assessed

A minimum of 5 subjects at GCSE Grade 4/BTEC Level 2 Pass or higher:

Including

- Grade 5 in GCSE English Language or Literature.

- Either GCSE PE Grade 4 or higher or BTEC Level 2 First Award in Sport P2 or higher.

The sport industry contributes billions of pounds to the UK economy. The industry employs more than 400,000 people and offers many career openings in a range of areas. Studying this qualification will allow you to progress to higher education and/or undertake any of the following sports specific careers:

• Fitness training
• Sports coaching
• Teaching physical education
• Sports physiotherapy
• Sports psychology
• Leisure management
• Sports development