BTEC Level 3 Diploma / Extended Diploma in Sport
Wanting to combine your passion for football with a career in the sports industry? The BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Sport provides an opportunity to gain an industry-recognised post-16 qualification while being affiliated to your local professional football club.
Delivered across a variety of state-of-the-art facilities throughout Sheffield, by qualified teaching staff and enrichment coaches, this two-year course offers sport and fitness motivated post-16 students the opportunity to study whilst actively participating in a football or fitness enrichment pathway.
The new contemporary vocational qualification has been re-designed in conjunction with feedback from employers and industry experts, in order to help students develop the necessary skills and qualities that are required to work within sport. A core focus of the qualification is to provide practical work-experience opportunities to the students, allowing them to develop the necessary skills needed for direct employment within the industry. This is underpinned by a broad range of academic skills and knowledge, that allows learners to take their first steps within the diverse and ever-changing sport and fitness industry.
Sheffield United Community College
The course is currently delivered across two purposely selected sites; Westfield SGP and Handsworth FC. Lessons, tutorials sessions and workshops will be delivered on-site within our newly designed learning hubs. The facilities include fully equipped fitness suites, 4G pitches, student breakout areas, canteen and changing rooms. The student’s bespoke timetables combine their academic and practical study alongside work experience, tutorials sessions and their chosen enrichment programme.
Students will learn from highly qualified staff with a range of academic and sport specific backgrounds within sport science, health, coaching, and fitness industries. Students will benefit from a broader range of local, regional and national connections available through the Community Foundations associated partners. During their study students will have numerous opportunities to undertake additional vocational awards and workshops designed to help facilitate their personal and professional development. This includes coaching and fitness qualifications, tutorial sessions, NCS, employability and progress events, as well as numerous trips and rewards.
For accreditation purposes Sheffield United Community College deliver their educational qualifications in partnership with Sheffield College.
Enrichment Pathways: Your Course, Your Choice
Sheffield United Community College allows for a greater choice and flexibility in how students manage their study programme. Enrichment is a fundamental part of their course, therefore, we wanted this to match up with the student’s passion and career direction. All three pathways are unique in how they are delivered, but all three provide practical activity, competition, educational component, and additional qualifications. Students will get the option to select their desired pathway at the start of their course.
- Football Development Pathway
- Fitness Pathway
- Esports Pathway
Click here for more information about our Enrichment Pathways.
Course Background
This is an academic sports course providing a pathway to a range of sport-based degrees at university or into direct employment within the sport and fitness industry. Students will study a variety of units such as Anatomy and Physiology, Fitness and Health, Skill Acquisition, Sports Coaching, Employment, Nutrition and Psychology. The course comprises of both classroom and practical lessons, sport and industry-based learning and features various assessment methods that will prepare students for further academic study. Most units are assessed through assignments which are submitted via our interactive learning platforms in a variety of formats including; written reports, posters, practical sports, demonstrations, group tasks, interviews, practical coaching, presentations, work experience, projects, performance observation and time-constrained assessments.
This study programme is ideal for people interested in going on to study sport-based courses at university, or wish to pursue a career pathway within teaching, fitness, youth work, sport science coaching or sports development.
Course Format & Content
The BTEC qualification is comprised of units; the BTEC Diploma has 7 units while the Extended Diploma has 12 units. All units will be internally assessed through assignments set and marked by tutors. Upon completion of each internally assessed unit, the tutor will inform the learner of what grade they have achieved (either Pass, Merit or Distinction). When all the units of the course have been completed, the learner will receive an overall grade for the qualification. This is the grade that will be shown on the certificate and the one that should be used when applying for higher education or employment.
Throughout the two years students will study a wide range of units including;
- Careers in the Sport and Active Leisure Industry
- Health, Wellbeing and Sport
- Developing Coaching Skills
- Applied Coaching Skills
- Sport Development
- Self-employment in Sport and Physical Activity
- Anatomy and Physiology in Sport
- Sports Psychology
- Nutrition for Physical Performance
- Rules, Regulations and Officiating in Sport
- Influence of Technology in Sport and Physical Activity
- Organising Events in Sport and Physical Activities
Value Added
Sheffield United Community College has made significant investments to provide one of the best sport college programmes in Yorkshire. We have invested heavily in course resources to ensure every student has access to their own laptop, virtual learning including their own personal email and online storage, access to a wide variety of enrichment facilities and pathways, as well as a significant investment into the incredibly experienced staffing team to ensure all students are supported from day one of recruitment right through to completion of the course.
Students will have a dedicated work placement coordinator who will help to enhance their CV and career once the course is completed. We have recently secured a partnership with Active IQ to provide students with additional sports and fitness qualifications to supplement their core study programme. Furthermore, we will arrange for guest speakers from a huge variety of roles within the sporting industry and give the very best careers guidance whether that be university or sports career ambitions.
Recognising Achievement
To motivate and inspire our students, we have clear guidelines and boundaries, as well as a defined policy that focuses upon positive behaviour.
This encourages students to reach their goals and are rewarded for doing so. Students build up weekly points by excelling in the following areas: attendance, punctuality, engagement, meeting deadlines and outstanding contributions. At the end of each month the top performing students will make it into the College’s Team of the Month. In addition to this one student from each site is nominated as ‘Student of the Month’. Student of the Months are awarded with a full-size FIFA Card and a £20 Amazon Voucher.
Each student who has made it into the Team of the Month is rewarded with a SUFC home match ticket, as well as granted access to one of our end of term trips. Previous trips have included tours of Old Trafford, Manchester City tickets, Alton Towers, Go-Karting and Paintball etc. At the end of the academic year all students are invited to the College Awards Evening. This event is an opportunity to recognise and reward achievement, with trophies handed out to those who excel in education and/or enrichment.
Student Support
Here at Sheffield United Community College, we pride ourselves on the wrap around care available to all of our students. Our aim is to develop students in all aspects of their lives and not just their academic ability. Students leave our courses as better people, not just better students.
Every student on the Education programme has access to pastoral support in the form of a learning mentor. Working alongside the tutors, the learning mentor strives to maintain high levels of engagement, participation, attendance, punctuality and attainment. Students are constantly monitored to ensure that they are achieving their target grades, are maximising their learning time and developing their independent learning skills.
The learning mentor is also responsible for ensuring students’ welfare and liaising with tutors to support personal and academic development throughout their time on the study programme. Combined with 1-1 meetings and progress monitoring, students are encouraged to take ownership of their learning in order to ensure they achieve the grades they deserve. Learning mentors will work with students to address any potential barriers they may face and strive to build supportive relationships to tailor their support to individual students’ needs. Our learning mentors are friendly, approachable and experienced and are successful in their roles, inspiring and motivating students to become more independent, innovative and responsible learners and be more empowered in solving their own problems.
In addition to this all students will also have access to Sheffield College’s support team who also provide well-being and personal support and financial advice, including travel passes and learner support funds, which can help towards the cost of travel, college kit and materials needed for your course.
Entry Requirements
- Aged 16-18
- 4 GCSE’s grade 4 or above (or equivalent), including English Language and Maths*
*Those without English or Maths will complete the Diploma and not the Extended Diploma.
Please Note: a one-year, level two sport qualification equivalent can be offered to those that fall below the entry requirements.
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Find Out More
For further information or general course enquires please get in touch with Ryan Collins (Education Manager) via the contact details below:
07891411682
ryan.collins@sufc-community.co.uk