Do you aspire to become a sports coach (whether it be in primary and secondary schools or communities) or become an inspirational role model within a physical education setting? The future looks promising, as CIMSPA’s 2023 workforce insight report identified sports coaches remain the largest Sport and Physical Activity occupation in the UK, having added over 36,300 net new jobs between 2006 and 2019 (52% growth). Likewise, LifePilot forecasts there will be 4.3% more PE teacher jobs in 2027.
This two-year HTQ-approved Foundation Degree will help you develop transferable skills tailored for a diverse range of sporting settings, ensuring that you’re prepared for employment after graduating.
HTQs have been approved against employer developed standards, also known as occupational standards. This ensures that learners gain the skills that employers want, and employers can be confident that learners have the knowledge, skills and behaviours for a particular specialist role.
HTQ – Become a PE and Sports Coach
This foundation degree is a Higher Technical Qualification (HTQ). This means it will give you the technical skills and training to move into a Physical Education and Sports Coaching role.
TYPICAL OFFER
UCAS Tariff Points: 48 UCAS tariff points from two A-levels (or equivalent qualifications), one of which must be in a relevant subject
A levels: 2x D grades, one of which needs to be in a relevant subject
BTEC Level 3 Diploma or Extended Diploma: MP, MPP grade in relevant subjects
Access to HE Diploma: Overall pass with 60 credits, with 24 credits to be at a Merit grade in a relevant subject
T Levels: Acceptable in a relevant subject
GCSE English(Desirable): English Language Grade C or above (grade 4 for those sitting their GCSE from 2017 onwards) is desirable.
GCSE Maths(Desirable): Maths Grade C or above (grade 4 for those sitting their GCSE from 2017 onwards) is desirable.
IELTS: IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any component.
International qualifications: International qualifications will be assessed against these criteria
Mature applicants: University Centre Leeds welcomes applications from mature* applicants who may not have met the academic criteria, but who can demonstrate a wealth of experience in their chosen field. Candidates in this category and otherwise are likely to be interviewed to assess their suitability for the course and may be asked to provide a portfolio of evidence to support their application.
*21 years and over at the start of the course
RPL claims: The course structure actively supports claims for Recognition of Prior Certified Learning (RPCL) or Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning (RPEL).
DBS checks: Students will also be required to complete the Disclosure and Barring Service process (DBS) prior to commencement on placement. The department will cover the cost.
References: An appropriate reference is required.
This motivating course has been designed with the Sports Coach occupational standard to develop the skills and attributes necessary to work in the Physical Education or Sports Coaching industry. In the first year of the course, you will explore how to coach individuals and teams, how to analyse performance and cater for individual needs, human anatomy and physiology and leading others in outdoor adventurous activities. There will be extensive practice of coaching others in schools and to wider community groups, which will serve as excellent preparation for those looking to become PE teachers in the future.
Year two will focus on developing your ability to plan, deliver and implement strategies to ensure safe and inclusive sessions, gaining a greater understanding of the requirements of teaching and coaching in different settings and a greater awareness of the impact of physical education and school sport for lifelong development. Year two will contain an opportunity for you to gain experience in a school, sports club or at a community sports club which will help you make an informed decision on your career aspirations on completion of the course.
Fundamentally, the course is designed to be highly practical enhancing your coaching skillset, developing your inter-intra-personal skills through exposure to different environments and encouraging the development of progressive programmes to maximise engagement, whole child development and accelerate skill acquisition in young people. This course will be excellent preparation for anyone wanting to become a PE teacher in schools or to work in sports clubs.
Upon completion of this Foundation Degree, you can progress to study for a third year and gain a full BA (Hons) Physical Education and Sport Coaching Top-up Degree
This course is validated by Luminate Education Group
How to Apply:
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Apply Now: Direct Application Form
Need Help? For further information, please email admissions@ucleeds.ac.uk
Please note, if you apply directly, we are required to submit a Record of Prior Acceptance (RPA) application to UCAS on your behalf if your application is successful and you enrol.
If you would like to apply for to study full time, please do so via UCAS.
The institution code for University Centre Leeds is L21.
The application fee for applying through UCAS is £28.50, unless you are eligible for Free School Meals (FSM).
Modules may include:
Learning and Teaching through Outdoor Adventure Activities (20 credits) The learning and teaching through outdoor adventure activities module has been designed to educate and give you a greater insight on the current needs to provide students/participants a wider range of sports and activities. Within this module, you will be provided with experiences including a residential aiding to build current skills and knowledge in order to assist with leading an outdoor education session under supervision to small groups.
Anatomy and Physiology (20 credits) The Anatomy and Physiology module has been designed to develop your knowledge and understanding of the structure and function of human anatomy. The module will cover the structure and function of relevant anatomical systems within the human body (skeletal, muscular, cardiovascular, respiratory and energy systems), emphasising their responses to the demands of physical activity.
Analysing Sports Performance (20 credits) The module will introduce the fundamentals of sports analysis enabling you to analyse performance and identify strategies for improvement. This module will provide you with the opportunity to apply analysis of performance across a range of sports and physical activities and develop an understanding of the role analysis plays in supporting educators, students, coaches and athletes.
Developing Physical Literacy Through Dance and Gymnastics (20 credits) This module has been designed to provide you with experience in dance and gymnastics practices at key stages 3 and 4 within the national curriculum of physical education. You will gain an appreciation of the demands of a PE teacher on how to choreograph, perform and appreciate dance as an art form. In addition, you will also develop an understanding of the principles of movement, composing sequences, and the sequencing structure within a gymnastics routine.
Learning and Teaching Team Sports (20 credits) The learning and teaching through the team sports module has been designed to explore a range of team sports in school or community sports settings. Within the module, you will have dedicated time spent on different activities. This will enable you to gain essential knowledge required to develop appropriate teaching and learning strategies, whilst also working on your own practical performance.
Learning and Teaching Individual Sports (20 credits) The learning and teaching through the individual sports module has been designed to explore a range of individual sports in school or community sports settings. Within the module, you will have dedicated time spent on different activities. This will enable you to gain essential knowledge required to develop their own teaching and learning strategies, whilst also working on your own practical performance.
Inclusive Physical Education (20 credits) The learning and teaching through the individual sports module has been designed to explore a range of individual sports in school or community sports settings. Within the module, you will have allocated time spent on different activities. This will enable you to gain essential knowledge required to develop your own teaching and learning strategies, whilst also working on your own practical performance.
Contemporary Issues in PE, Sport and Physical Activity (20 credits) This module will provide you with the opportunity to develop their comprehension of equality, diversity, and ways in which physical education and sport coaching can overcome barriers to physical activity adherence and sports participation. The module will also give you the chance to evaluate how physical activity and healthy lifestyle choices can affect a range of public health agendas within a range of specialist populations.
Physical Education, Health and Lifelong Participation (20 credits) This module has been developed so you are aware of the current physical activity and wellbeing recommendations, health trends and the government frameworks or initiatives in place offering support. The module will raise awareness of the whole child approach to education, physical literacy and the holistic benefits of whole child development. You will gain a greater understanding of physical activity, holistic wellbeing, the long-term benefits and the development of a healthy lifestyle (DfE PENC).
Professional Practice (20 credits) This module aims to increase your awareness of the requirements of working within sports settings and provide you with an opportunity to participate in and lead practical learning activities.
Pedagogical Principles of Sport Delivery (40 credits) This module will provide you with an opportunity to gain greater knowledge of a range of teaching strategies typically used within sports delivery. You will have the opportunity to apply learning theories, targeted interventions and behavioural management techniques into a classroom and practical based settings.
You will develop a range of interpersonal, academic and employability skills as well as the subject-specific knowledge and skills required in the following areas;
You will explore practically the rules, techniques and tactics of a wide array of sports and how to deliver, coach and assess them in readiness for becoming a qualified sports coach and/or assisting in sports delivery in a school or community setting.
You will develop your understanding of sports specific skills alongside leadership, communication, teamwork and analytical skills, as you become a reflective practitioner with the ability to conduct post-session evaluations of performance.
The assessments within the programme have been designed to emulate the requirements of employment in an educational or sports coaching setting, they have been carefully designed to assess your competence in both coaching the skills needed for practical delivery and planning.
It has been designed to promote authentic assessment of your abilities so feedback provided can help sculpt you into the right candidate for employment on completion of the course. Assessments will focus less on the successful completion of exams or writing essays on practical competencies and instead focus on knowledge, creativity, teamwork, problem-solving and communicating effectively in a written or verbal manner.
Assessment methods are varied across the modules to support and enhance the application of theory to assessment practice and subsequently nurture employability skills of the future workforce for physical education teachers, assistants or coaches working in a school based or community setting.
The majority of the course is delivered from the University Centre Leeds Campus which has a dedicated specialist sports laboratory, includes specialist sports analysis software and equipment, virtual reality equipment and specialist fitness equipment.
Some lessons will typically take place in classrooms to encourage student support and the sharing of experiences and knowledge, rather than in large lecture halls. Practical lessons will be undertaken at a specialist practical facility where the use of a full sized 3G pitch, sports halls etc. is required.
Due to their practical nature, some assessments may take place at the University Centre Leeds Campus, but some assessments may require you to travel to a specialist facility outside of the city centre.
TYPICAL OFFER
UCAS Tariff Points: 48 UCAS tariff points from two A-levels (or equivalent qualifications), one of which must be in a relevant subject
A levels: 2x D grades, one of which needs to be in a relevant subject
BTEC Level 3 Diploma or Extended Diploma: MP, MPP grade in relevant subjects
Access to HE Diploma: Overall pass with 60 credits, with 24 credits to be at a Merit grade in a relevant subject
T Levels: Acceptable in a relevant subject
GCSE English(Desirable): English Language Grade C or above (grade 4 for those sitting their GCSE from 2017 onwards) is desirable.
GCSE Maths(Desirable): Maths Grade C or above (grade 4 for those sitting their GCSE from 2017 onwards) is desirable.
IELTS: IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any component.
International qualifications: International qualifications will be assessed against these criteria
Mature applicants: University Centre Leeds welcomes applications from mature* applicants who may not have met the academic criteria, but who can demonstrate a wealth of experience in their chosen field. Candidates in this category and otherwise are likely to be interviewed to assess their suitability for the course and may be asked to provide a portfolio of evidence to support their application.
*21 years and over at the start of the course
RPL claims: The course structure actively supports claims for Recognition of Prior Certified Learning (RPCL) or Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning (RPEL).
DBS checks: Students will also be required to complete the Disclosure and Barring Service process (DBS) prior to commencement on placement. The department will cover the cost.
References: An appropriate reference is required.
Full-time students will need to complete 40 hours of voluntary or paid work experience in a suitable placement throughout their study. An appropriate reference is required and you will need to complete the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) process prior to placement.
Upon completion of this Foundation Degree, you can progress to study for a third year and gain a full BA (Hons) Physical Education and Sport Coaching Top-up Degree.
Job opportunities may include:
For the latest version of the programme specifications for this course please click here.
For the latest version of the Leeds City College regulations please click here.
A kit bundle to support you with the practical aspects of the course will include a number of branded products.
Some embroidered items may be available to buy individually. It is anticipated that you will need an embroidered polo shirt as a minimum to wear during practical sessions or whenever representing the institution.
To ensure that you obtain the best deal possible for professional branded clothing that will set you up for practical sessions, gym workouts and work placements, you should order your kit through the institution. As we recognise the cost of the kit bundle may be a lot of money to pay upfront at the start of your course, we have made arrangements for this to be included in your tuition fee loan from Student Finance England, which would mean that your loan would be for £8,945. Please note that your kit can only be issued to you once proof of your loan is received by the University Centre.
Applications are open for 2025 entry.
To apply directly to study at University Centre Leeds as an international applicant, please visit our 'How to apply' page and complete the steps
You can also apply through UCAS.
For more information please visit our 'How to apply' page.
Course fees for Undergraduates are £14,000 (GBP)
Scholarship available £3,000 (GBP) all courses.
For more information about fees and scholarships, please click here.
Please see our entry requirements page for additional requirements as an international student
International students will study 5 additional hours on top of the regular timetable.
For more information about visa and immigration, please click here.
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