Physical Education with QTS BSc (Hons)

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Share your love of physical education. Train for a career as a PE teacher where you will inspire and influence young people. Give them the motivation, confidence, competence and understanding to lead a physically active life.

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Overview

The BSc (Hons) Physical Education with QTS degree is a fast-track route into teaching, taking just three years to become a fully qualified PE teacher in secondary education. If you want to inspire confidence in children to lead a physically active life while embarking on a rewarding teaching career, this course could be for you.

Learning through hands-on experience by undertaking placements in schools and applying theory to your teaching practice will help you to develop the skills you need to teach young people in physical education.

During this PE teaching degree, you'll study the scientific principles of physical education and sport, with applied practical activities while developing your expertise in the classroom, all with the support of a strong partnership between the University and your placement school.

Why us?

Our BSc (Hons) Physical Education with QTS course has a 100% positivity score for how well teaching staff support students' learning (National Student Survey, 2024)
All qualified teachers will have a starting salary of at least £31,650, and this will be higher for teachers working in London
As well as classroom learning, practical sessions and assessments will form a significant part of this PE teaching course
Workshops, masterclasses, and the chance to gain additional qualifications are available, depending on availability, from external bodies including the Football Association and England Cricket Board

Spend 120 days on placement in primary schools, secondary schools, or colleges
Our Education courses are in the top 50 in the UK (Guardian University Guide, 2025)
You'll be taught by tutors with proven expertise as effective teachers
Our Education courses are in the UK top 50 for graduate prospects (Complete University Guide 2025)
Our teacher training courses are internationally recognised and respected, opening up opportunities for potential careers abroad

Course structure

This PE teaching course is taught via a mix of practical sessions, lectures, seminars and workshops, as well as project and individual work.

You'll also undertake placements within a school which will enable you to get valuable hands-on experience to prepare you for becoming a PE teacher. Placements are available within both primary and secondary school settings.

Your progress on this Physical Education degree will be assessed by project work, practical assessments, essays and observed placements.

Course modules

Year 1 (national level 4):

Introduction to Research, Scholarly Activity and Second Subject (30 credits)

This module will provide you with guidance in the conventions of utilising research for academic writing and model academic skills including writing and presenting. You’ll develop essential skills for academic success and future employability, as well as enhance your professional development for continued lifelong learning. You’ll also study maths as a second subject, supporting your employment opportunities post-graduation.

Introduction to Physical Education and Pedagogic Development (30 credits)

In this module, you’ll develop emerging understanding of the various pedagogical approaches to the teaching and learning of young people in physical education and school sport, starting with a focus on the primary setting and concluding with secondary. You’ll examine key areas of consideration such as the national curriculum for physical education, high quality PE, and fundamental principles of motor skills and their acquisition. You’ll also review emerging issues in relation to the current landscape of PE.

Introduction to Physical Education and Performance Development (30 credits)

You’ll acquire knowledge of the landscape of physical education and school sport in a practical setting in this module, starting with key stages 1 and 2 and concluding at key stage 3. You’ll apply your knowledge within a practical setting with a key focus on the national curriculum for physical education and selected aims of PE specifically. You’ll also take part in and deliver a series of PE lessons using the knowledge you’ve gained to exercise appropriate judgement in this context.

Introduction to Teaching and Learning (30 credits)

In this module, you’ll have the opportunity to apply subject, pedagogical, and theoretical knowledge gained in your university sessions to schools and other educational settings. You’ll be given the chance to apply this knowledge during your experiential placement, completing focused tasks and reflections during the placement.

Some modules have prerequisites. Read more about what this means in our Help and Advice article.

Year 2 (national level 5):

Principles of Research, Scholarly Activity and Second Subject (30 credits)

This module will develop your essential skills for academic success and future employability. You’ll increase your awareness and understanding of the processes involved in learning and professional development for continued lifelong learning. The module will raise awareness of the PE profession and your career opportunities for a long and rewarding career. As part of the module, you’ll continue to study maths as a second subject, which supports your employment prospects post-graduation and equips you with the subject knowledge to deliver key stage 3 maths.

Principles of Model-Based Pedagogy and Theoretical Approaches in PE (30 credits)

In this module, you’ll enhance your understanding of the various pedagogical approaches to the teaching and learning of young people in physical education and school sport. You’ll explore key areas of consideration from a models-based approach including psychological perspectives like motivation and self-efficacy; sociological perspectives like occupational socialisation theory and social learning theory; and models-based approaches to delivering PE lessons like game-based approaches. You’ll also compare differing approaches of the holistic child.

Principles of Contemporary PE Approaches in Practice (30 credits)

You’ll extend your knowledge of the landscape of physical education and school sport in a practical setting in this module, with a focus on key stage 3. You’ll take part in and deliver a series of PE lessons using the knowledge you’ve gained to exercise appropriate judgement in this context. You’ll also reflect on your teaching practice both formatively and summatively, closing the feedback loop.

Principles of Teaching and Learning (30 credits)

This module will give you the opportunity to develop your subject, pedagogical, and theoretical knowledge gained in university sessions to schools and other educational settings. You’ll complete an assessed placement where you’ll start to make judgements about the routines, skills, and strategies that support effective teaching.

Year 3 (national level 6):

Teaching National Qualifications in PE (30 credits)

In this module, you’ll develop your classroom-based knowledge and delivery skills in relation to vocational and academic qualifications in the 14-18 physical education and sport curriculum. You’ll formulate lesson content from across a range of awarding bodies, then plan and implement a classroom-based lesson from the curriculum content available. The practical aspect of the module provides you with the opportunity to apply theoretical concepts to classroom situations.

Enhancing Practice in PE (30 credits)

This module will enhance your knowledge of the landscape of physical education and school sport in a practical setting with a focus on key stage 4. You’ll produce and deliver back-to-back lessons that account for the abilities of older pupils within the context of a PE lesson. You’ll also reflect on the teaching practice of others both formatively and summatively, actively becoming part of the feedback loop at what is often the pinnacle of PE and sport performance in school.

Curriculum Project (30 credits)

You’ll demonstrate your ability to engage with a small-scale action research project, undertaken in your placement school. The project will explore the impact of a specific pedagogic theory within your subject specialism, and you’ll acquire the knowledge and skills needed to carry out an investigation in your field of study. This project aims to show you the connection between academic enquiry and real-world issues, and you’ll develop key organisational skills, refine the standard of your written prose, and cultivate your communication skills with both your peers and the academic team.

Developing Excellence in Teaching and Learning (30 credits)

In this module, you’ll immerse yourself in teaching institutions to develop professional knowledge about teaching and learning, making judgements about the routines, skills, and strategies that support effective teaching. You’ll gain a variety of experience in a work-based learning environment to meet professional standards identified in government legislation. You’ll also consider the development of a variety of approaches to teach your subject specialism, formulating skillful questioning to reveal levels of pupil understanding, encouraging them to take responsibility for their own academic progress.

More about BSc (Hons) Physical Education with QTS at Sunderland

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You can access free Wi-Fi throughout the University campus, so you can work from anywhere. If you don't want to carry a laptop around, just use one of the University’s PCs or Macs. We have hundreds of computers for you to use in the Murray Library, St Peter's Library, and the David Goldman Informatics Centre. If you ever have any technical problems, just ask the friendly helpdesk team.
IT provision
University library services will be central to your study experience and are delivered at our two libraries on campus, as well as online. Our libraries offer a variety of study environments to meet your needs, including areas for groupwork, individual and silent study. You’ll also have access to desktop PCs, space to use your own mobile technology and printing facilities.

The library works closely with academic staff within each faculty to offer specialist, industry standard resources in your subject discipline. The Faculty of Education provides thousands of relevant books and e-books, with many more titles available through the inter-library loan service. You’ll also have access to a comprehensive range of print and electronic journals which are always kept up to date, including the EBSCO Professional Development Collection, Community Care Inform, JSTOR and many more.

To find out more information, visit our University Library website.
Library Services - education
Map and directions

Facilities

Teaching will take place across both our campuses in Sunderland.

Many of your lectures and seminars will be held at Wearside View, situated on the award-winning Sir Tom Cowie Campus at St Peter's. This stunning riverside location benefits from a floodlit multi-use games area for practical sessions, dedicated library services, and has superb transport links with the city centre and City Campus.

Practical sessions will take place at CitySpace at our City Campus, which has recently benefitted from a multi-million pound refurbishment. It features state-of-the-art facilities including a sports hall, fitness suite, gym, strength and conditioning room, injury prevention and support suite, and a climbing wall.

Entry requirements

We don’t currently display entry requirements for United States. Please contact the Student Admin team on studentadmin@sunderland.ac.uk or 0191 515 3154.

You must also have five GCSEs at grade C or above, and these must include mathematics and English language, or equivalent qualifications. If you've studied for a GCSE which has a numerical grade, you'll need to achieve a grade 4 or above. We'll only accept equivalencies from equivalencytesting.com.

Our admissions policy uses a range of flexible options to support you in studying with us. This may include a reduced offer of up to 16 UCAS tariff points, (or equivalent). Find out if you are eligible.

In addition to academic qualifications, you must also:

Have an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
Disclose any criminal convictions (required by DES Circular 9/93)
Complete a medical pro forma (based on DFEE Circular 8/92).

Your numeracy and literacy competency will be assessed continuously throughout the course following the DfE’s removal of the Professional Skills Test.

If English isn't your first language, you'll also need International English Language Testing System (IELTS) at a score of 6.5 overall with 6.5 in writing and no other element lower than 6.0. Read more about our English language requirements.

You'll be assessed on your potential to learn and not your experience.

All successful applicants will be invited to an interview. Interviews start early November, so we recommend that you apply as soon as UCAS opens in October.

Is your qualification not displaying here? For international qualifications, search our full list of international entry requirements for this course.

Fees and finance

The annual, full-time fee for this course is:

£9,535 if you are from the UK*/Europe
£16,500 if you are an international student

*Undergraduate fees are set according to rules from Government in line with forecast inflation. The fee for your first year of study for 2025/26 will be £9,535. You will pay tuition fees for every year of study. Fees may increase every year based on the Retail Price Index.

Read more about EU fees and funding in our Help and Advice article.

Take a look at the scholarships and bursaries that may be available to you.

This information was correct at the time of publication.

The Sir Tom Cowie Campus at St Peter's by night

Career ready

This Physical Education degree awards Qualified Teacher Status, which means that when you graduate you’ll be qualified to teach in any state-maintained school in England.

Good teachers are always in high demand, so it's likely you'll find a job upon graduation. All qualified teachers will have a starting salary of at least £31,650, and this will be higher for teachers working in London. The amount you earn will then increase until you reach the top end of your pay scale, after which you can choose to progress into more senior roles, such as leading practitioner or head teacher.

The teachers’ pension scheme is also one of the most generous public sector pension schemes in the UK, one of the few guaranteed by the Government.

Placements

Teaching placements are an essential part of this Physical Education degree and your PE teacher training. You'll spend at least 120 days working in schools and colleges, gaining a true understanding of what being a PE teacher involves, and using your new skills and knowledge. When you’re ready to start searching for a teaching job, you'll already have valuable first-hand teaching experience, as well as a wide network of professional contacts who can help you find the right career opportunities.

Related courses

Contact

Contact the Student Helpline for further information about studying at the University of Sunderland:

0191 515 3000

student.helpline@sunderland.ac.uk

View Programme Specifications for the Faculty of Education and Society.

Page last updated: 19 November 2024

We aim to provide clear, accurate and timely information to prospective and current students. We continuously review and enhance course content in consultation with our students and the information provided on our website is the latest available. If you have received an offer from us to start a course, we will communicate any important changes to you in writing. We will always seek to ensure that our prospective students are fully aware of the basis on which they are accepting an offer.