What To Do With An A-Level In P.E. If You Want To Work In Sport

If you have an A-Level in P.E. you clearly have an interest and aptitude for sport and fitness.  Perhaps you’ve always loved physical exercise and knew from a young age that a career in sport was your path.  Maybe you’ve grown to enjoy the benefits of sport through extracurricular activities and good role models, and now want to discover where it could lead.

Whatever has got you to this point, an A-Level in P.E. is a great achievement and opens doors to many other opportunities to further your development and career.  If you’re specifically looking to work in sport, you are probably wondering how an A-Level in P.E. is helpful.

Thankfully an A-Level in P.E. provides a fantastic stepping stone to further education and training.

We’ve outlined the next steps you can take into the world of sport following an A-Level in P.E.

Higher Education – University

One of the most popular choices post A-Levels is a University course.  Most Universities require A-Levels grade C or above to accept applicants on their courses, so achieving a high grade in A-Level in P.E. will go a long way to helping you enrol in an undergraduate course.  If you wish to take a University course in a sports related subject, an A-Level in P.E. is most probably a prerequisite.

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Study towards the Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Supporting the Delivery of PE & School Sport. The approved qualification to become a School Sports Specialist.

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University courses allow you to gain expert knowledge and training so you can go on to work as a professional in sport.  An undergraduate course in a sports related subject could lead onto becoming an Instructor, Physiotherapist, Sports Coach, P.E. Coordinator, or P.E. Technician.

Another fantastic option is an undergraduate teaching degree so you can go on to become a P.E. teacher.

However, University fees are expensive and you could build up a great deal of debt if you choose this route.  You may also dislike the idea of a full-time University course that spans a number of years; preferring instead to get some real life work experience and the opportunity to earn your own money whilst you train.

Work Experience

If you’d prefer to earn your own money and gather worthwhile work experience, why not apply to foundation or assistant level jobs.

Focus on preparing your C.V., and a covering letter you can use to apply promptly to any positions that come up.  Consider how your A-Level in P.E. has equipped you to fulfil the requirements of the roles that become available, so you can make the most out of what you’ve achieved with your qualifications this far.

If you decide to go into full-time work following your A-Levels, try to find jobs that will boost your skills and experience, and that are most relevant to the career path you would like to take.  For example if you wish to teach, prioritise job applications that are within educational settings, or if you want to focus on coaching, opt for jobs with coaching clubs.

As long as the job you go for can develop your sports skills and provide you with meaningful experience, this is a great path to take after A-Levels.  You can gain valuable experience, earn money, and put yourself in a brilliant position to work your way up through a sports organisation.  This type of work and real-life experience can also be a fantastic stepping stone into further education if you choose to go that route in the future.

Teacher Training With A School

If sharing your passion for sport and teaching others is a career you’re interested in, a teacher training program within a school could be an excellent option for you following an A-Level in P.E.

The Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills Status (QTLS) provides professional status for post-16 education.  QTLS is not a qualification, but is a recognised professional status within the field of teaching.  If you hold a QTLS, you’re able to teach across all subjects and ages and can have access to equal pay and conditions as other educators with QTS (Qualified Teacher Status).

To achieve the QTLS you’ll need to complete a Level 5 Initial Teacher Training Qualification (ITT).  The most common Level 5 ITT course is the Diploma in Education and Training (DET), formerly known as the DTLLS (the Diploma in Teaching in The Lifelong Learning Sector).  Or alternatively, you can complete the Level 5 Certificate in Further Education Training.

To be accepted onto one of these Level 5 ITT courses you will need to hold at least a Level 2 in Maths and English, and your A-Level in P.E. will be well received.

You will have to complete a number of steps to achieve the QTLS, but you can learn and train within a school setting, gain valuable hands-on experience, and remove the time and cost of University. A ‘supporter school’ will act as your training ground and help to mentor you through the tasks that form part of the QTLS program.

Opting for this route following your A-Level in P.E. will provide you with relevant experience within a teaching setting; building your confidence and skills teaching sport to young students.  You may even be fortunate enough to receive a job offer from your placement school once you achieve the QTLS.

Coaching Certificates

If sports coaching is your preferred career choice in sport, there are a number of courses in Sports Coaching that you can enrol in following your P.E. A-Level, depending on your age, ability and experience.

The Level 2 Certificate in Coaching focuses specifically on the skills needed to plan, deliver and review sports coaching sessions.  From the age of 18 you’ll be given the chance to work independently managing your own planning and implementation of coaching sessions.  This is a great step to take following your P.E. A-Level as you can receive recognition for your coaching practice and have hands-on experience developing and improving your coaching skills.

The Level 3 Certificate in Coaching is designed for those who aspire to become Head Coaches and lead their own programs.  If you’re aged 18 or older, you can work independently through this qualification covering topics such as, health and safety, communication, nutrition, injury and sports psychology, to name a few.  If you already work at an assistant level in a sports setting, this is an excellent next step to expand your knowledge and gain recognition for your coaching abilities, following your A-Level in P.E.

Training and Qualification With An Accredited Provider

Alternatively, if you struggle to find a school that is willing to offer you a placement or would like to gain a professional qualification, an accredited provider can develop your teacher training and coaching skills, and give you a professional qualification.

The 1st4sport Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Supporting the Delivery of Physical Education and School Sport only takes 12 months to complete, you do not need any previous qualifications to apply, but your A-Level in P.E. will certainly be an advantage.

This qualification is professionally recognised and has the support of CIMSPA, the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity, as an industry-relevant qualification contributing to the industry’s professional framework.

As part of the course you will need to have a training placement, but this could be as an assistant at an afterschool or weekend club, which is far more accessible than a full-time placement required through the teacher training routes.  As long as you’re involved in helping to deliver sports in some way, you can enrol on the NVQ Level 3 Diploma.

The NVQ Level 3 Diploma provides you with a fantastic foundation to build skills and experience; you will be working within a sports setting teaching and assisting others from the start.  This course allows you to develop your professional status in the field of sports education and prepares you for employment in school and educational settings, as well as giving you a professional qualification upon completion.

You could begin working as a School Sports professional as soon as you qualify.  Career paths include: Primary P.E. lead or teacher, P.E. Coordinator, Sports Coach or School Sport Professional.

If you’d like your next steps into sport to be manageable, affordable and accessible this NVQ Level 3 Diploma could be the ideal option for you following your A-Level in P.E.  You’ll benefit from hands-on experience, expert advice and training, and a professional qualification to begin your Sports Professional career.  You get the best of every option – hands-on training, experience, and a qualification to forward your career.

Take Your Pick

If you’ve managed to achieve a good A-Level grade in P.E. and want to work in sport, you have many great opportunities open to you.  It comes down to your preferences; whether you want to go to University or work in the field of sport straight away.

Whatever your preferences and ambitions are, there are opportunities for you to further your career in sport following A-Levels.  You could go to Uni, train to be a teacher, become employed at an assistant level, achieve coaching certificates or gain a professional qualification whilst learning on the job.

The good news is, you have lots of fantastic options, the hard part is deciding which path is best for you.

If you’d like to find out more about your options, contact [email protected] to ask about the NVQ Level 3 Diploma in Supporting the Delivery of Physical Education and School Sport.  Our friendly team would love to hear from you and tell you more about the course.