Physical Education and School Sport

Physical education and school sport sits at the intersection of sports science, pedagogy, and youth development. It is a field concerned with how physical activity is taught, promoted, and embedded in educational settings, and with the role that sport and movement play in the health, wellbeing, and social development of young people. Teachers, coaches, and sports development officers in this field need both a deep understanding of physical education as a discipline and the practical skills to design and deliver engaging learning experiences.

This four-year full-time programme at Hartpury University includes a foundation year, giving you structured preparation before you advance into the core of the degree. The programme is delivered in an environment rich with sporting opportunity, and you will develop your knowledge of sports coaching, exercise science, pedagogy, sports psychology, curriculum design, and assessment alongside strong practical teaching and coaching skills. The sandwich year placement and work placement opportunities give you extended professional experience in schools, sports clubs, national bodies, and other educational or sporting environments, building the professional knowledge and networks that employers in this sector value.

Hartpury's partnerships with local and national organisations mean that the work experience you gain is genuinely varied and connected to the real landscape of PE and school sport.

Graduates from PE and school sport programmes go on to careers as teachers, school sports coordinators, community sports development officers, coaches at club and national level, sports education advisers, and roles in national governing bodies. Many pursue postgraduate teacher training (PGCE or School Direct) to gain qualified teacher status. Others move into sports administration, health promotion, or further research in sports science or education.