NCFE Level 3 Sport and Physical Activity suite

Vocational qualifications are either work-related qualifications designed to enable students to gain the skills required to perform a particular job, or qualifications that may be taken as part of a wider study programme or an apprenticeship.

Schools and colleges may offer qualifications that are not included in the DfE performance tables, if approved for teaching to 16-19 year olds by the Secretary of State for Education in England under Section 96, where this is in the best interests of individual students.

This suite of qualifications provides students with a structured and challenging individualised learning programme that supports their development and progression in line with their future career plans.

They are the substantial qualification component of the study programme and designed to give students the skills, knowledge, and understanding of the sport and physical activity sector. They act as a stepping stone to a range of occupations often through the route of higher education.

• The NCFE Level 3 Introductory Certificate in Sport and Physical Activity is for students who wish to gain a brief understanding of the sector and develop general knowledge over a short period of time. This qualification will provide the student with an introduction to the career opportunities in the sport and physical activity sector.
• The NCFE Level 3 Certificate in Sport and Physical Activity is for students who are looking to develop general knowledge and interpersonal skills to support them into higher education when taken as a programme of study.
• The NCFE Level 3 Diploma (540) in Sport and Physical Activity is designed as a one year, full-time course covering the skills, knowledge, and understanding to support progression either into employment or onto further study.
• The NCFE Level 3 Diploma (720) in Sport and Physical Activity is designed as part of a two year programme, usually in combination with other qualifications to support the aspirations of the student. This qualification will also support students who want to progress into higher education, ultimately leading the student into employment.
• The NCFE Level 3 Extended Diploma in Sport and Physical Activity is designed as a full, two year programme for students who wish to develop their skills and knowledge of the sector. This qualification supports students interested in progressing to higher education.

These qualifications:

• focus on the study of the sport and physical activity sector
• offer breadth and depth of study, through a choice of four specific pathways
• provide opportunities to acquire a number of practical and technical skills

The objectives of these qualifications are to:

• allow students to gain an in-depth understanding of the sport and physical activity sector
• give students the opportunity to investigate career opportunities in the sport and physical activity sector
• allow students to choose content which relates to their own interests, aspirations, and progression choices