ALTON College offers students an opportunity to study for a level three Cambridge technical extended diploma in sport.

This is a two-year course comprising 18 units ranging from principles of anatomy and physiology in sport, coaching, nutrition, psychology for sports and performance and practical team sports to leadership, sports injuries, organising sports events, fitness training and programming, and sports development.

It also provides an opportunity to undertake work experience as part of the course.

Each unit is assessed by means of a vocational assignment.

Students like the fact that their coursework assignments count toward their final grade and that there are currently no exams (although this is currently under review). It is, however, a demanding course and students need to work consistently hard throughout the two years, often on more than one piece of coursework at a time, to achieve a good grade.

It is possible for students to study an AS-Level alongside their OCR level three Cambridge extended diploma course.

Learning will take place in a classroom, gym and sports hall environment, with the chance for independent study. In a typical lesson students will be taught relevant sport theory related to, for example, anatomy and physiology of the human body or sports coaching and will use this knowledge to carry out practical exercises such as an investigation into the adaptations that the body goes through when exercising in the gym or when conducting a coaching session for a group.

Students go on to a variety of higher education courses and jobs. Many students go on to study sports science, physical education, sports psychology, sports development, sport and business management and other sports-related subjects at university. Other students have immediately entered employment where they have taken up roles as sports coaches, sports masseuses, personal trainers and fitness instructors, where they have the option of pursuing further training.

Many students have found that the level three Cambridge extended diploma in sport course has been a successful route into university. The focus on one subject across a variety of topics provides an in depth insight into how sport works. A number of students who were not considering university at the beginning of the course have been encouraged successfully to pursue this route.

Students should normally have achieved an A*- C grade profile at GCSE. For GCSE English and maths where a new grading system has been introduced, a grade four is equivalent to a Grade C. Alternatively, if you have studied at level two you should have achieved a merit or above. Vocational courses are an ideal qualification for students who prefer coursework.

In addition to the standard course entry requirements, to be successful in the CTEC in sport you should have at least a GCSE grade C in biology/science and/or physical education.

* Visit altoncollege.ac.uk.