What is a BTEC National Award?
A BTEC National Award is a practical, work-related course. You learn by completing projects and assignments that are based on realistic workplace situations, activities and demands. You focus on a particular subject area and develop a range of specialist skills and knowledge. A BTEC National Award is a two-year course and is taken alongside other qualifications.

Course Outline
The National award in Sport is 100% coursework, with no examinations. Students are assessed through a variety of assignments. The course is a combination of theory and practical activities. To succeed students will need to complete assignment work, take part in practical and be confident in leadership and coaching.

Students will cover six different units over the two-years. Students will need to pass them all to gain the qualification. Each unit will have approximately 3 assignment tasks. Including the practical portfolio, students will complete a total of 18 assignment tasks, one assignment per month.

What subjects will I study?
The course is made up of six units.
Sport in Society
Ethics and Values in Sport
Fitness Testing
Principles of Coaching
Sports Development Leadership
Practical Sports Study (Individual) or Practical Sports Study (Team)

The course is student centred. Students learn through investigation and active involvement. They have a big responsibility for their own learning. Units are taught through 'learning outcomes' and each assignment will concentrate on testing & extending the students knowledge in one or more of the outcomes. The tutor will act as a learning resource for the students, offering advice & guidance as to how to approach the work.

All units consist of a set of formal assessment tasks/assignments.
The range of tasks will include:
" Experimental reports
" Investigative research
" Practical assessments
" Individual and group presentations

What are the entry requirements?
You will normally need to have at least one of the following:
" a BTEC First Certificate or Diploma in a related subject
" an Intermediate GNVQ in a related subject
" at least five GCSEs at grades A-C

How is the course assessed?
All units are assessed and graded, and an overall grade for the qualification is awarded. The level of attainment will be marked individually for each unit of the course, in line with BTEC guidelines. The grades will be:
" Distinction (A grade)
" Merit (C grade)
" Pass (E grade)

An overall grade is awarded for the qualification, based on the performance in
each unit. If Students do not achieve a pass grade they would have the opportunity to resubmit the work.

What can I do at the end of the course?
The National award in Sport is equivalent to one full A level, so when you have finished the course you can use it to get a job or you can use it alongside other qualifications to go into higher education first. BTEC National Certificates are valued by employers and higher education (universities and colleges).

Sport & Recreation is a growing business. Many opportunities exist for suitably qualified students If you want to get a job straight away you could work in:
" Sports Centres
" Leisure Centres
" Outdoor Activities Centres

If you decide to go to university or college and you have other qualifications, you could take a degree or a BTEC Higher National in subjects such as:
" Sports Studies
" Leisure Management
" Recreation Management
" Teacher training