Cambridge Technical in Sport
Overview
The OCR Cambridge Technical in Sport is a relatively new qualification at the College and the first cohort of pupils qualified in the Summer of 2021.
This qualification is the equivalent to two A levels in terms of its content and depth. There is one pathway for pupils taking the OCR Cambridge Technical in Sport, with one A level chosen from any A level from the broad selection on offer at Stonyhurst.
Course Content
There is a diverse range of topics within the OCR Cambridge Technical in Sport which makes it a hugely interesting course for pupils. From the Sport Science of Unit 1, to the Sport Psychology of Unit 19; from the Biomechanics of Unit 10 to the Sports Coaching of Unit 2; and from the Sports Injuries and Rehabilitation of Unit 17 to the how sports organisations are organised and run in Units 3 and 4. The breadth is vast and very stimulating and importantly, relevant to the real world.
The other aspect of the course which is different to A levels is that only 3 of the 11 units are assessed by examinations, but they are worth 33% of the total final mark/grade.
Equally important to understand is that these examinations are 90 minutes in length and that they take place immediately after the content has been taught. This is a huge positive for every pupil. Pupils are taught the knowledge and then they are assessed by an external OCR examination straight after the teaching has ended. e.g. Unit 1 is taught by Mr Evans from September to December, and then the examination for Unit 1 is taken in early January. Therefore, pupils do not have to wait one and a half years for the examination. Pupils then will know their results within 8 weeks.
The remaining 67% of the course is assessed via coursework, which is marked internally and then moderated externally by OCR. This aspect of the course has been popular with the pupils in the present cohorts. Pupils are taught the content, and then like university students, they have to complete their coursework and the tasks within them by a set deadline. Most pupils enjoy this independent style of learning and the grades over the last few years have been very successful.
