Sport
Attendance: Full Time
Course level: 1
Location: Wellington Road Campus
Course code: X0042
Start dates:
06/09/2027
Age:
a future student (16-18)
If you have a passion for sport, fitness, coaching or physical activity, our Sport courses will help you develop the skills, knowledge and practical experience needed for a successful career in the sports and active leisure industry.
With excellent facilities, strong employer links and a purpose-built sports centre, you’ll learn through a combination of practical sessions, fitness training, coaching activities and classroom-based learning. You will explore areas such as anatomy and physiology, fitness training, sports psychology, coaching, leadership and performance analysis while developing valuable employability skills.
Whether your goal is to become a coach, personal trainer, fitness instructor, sports leader or progress to university, apprenticeship opportunities or employment, our sport programmes offer a clear progression route.
Qualifications available
- Pearson Level 1 Diploma in Sport and Active Leisure
- Pearson Level 2 BTEC Extended Certificate in Sport
- NCFE Level 3 Diploma in Personal Training
- Pearson Level 3 BTEC National Foundation Diploma in Sport
The qualification level you study will be discussed during your interview and based on your qualifications, experience and career aspirations.
Course details
Entry Requirements:
Level 1 Sport and Active Leisure: Three GCSEs at Grade 1 or above, including English and maths.
Level 2 Sport: Four GCSEs at Grade 3 or above, including English and maths, or a relevant Level 1 Sport qualification.
Level 3 Personal Training: Five GCSEs at Grade 4 or above, including English and maths, ideally PE and science, or a relevant Level 2 Sport qualification.
Level 3 Sport Foundation Diploma: Five GCSEs at Grade 4 or above, including English and maths, ideally PE and science, or a relevant Level 2 Sport qualification.
For all levels, you will also be required to:
- Attend an interview with a member of the Sport team
- Demonstrate good attendance, punctuality and a positive attitude to learning
- Show enthusiasm for sport, fitness and physical activity
Work experience
All sport programmes include opportunities to develop industry experience through work placements and practical activities.
- Level 1 and Level 2 learners complete a minimum of 30 hours work experience.
- Personal Training learners gain experience working with real clients and community projects.
- Level 3 learners develop professional experience through coaching, leadership and industry-related activities.
Sports kit
Learners are required to purchase a college-branded sports kit costing approximately £80. Financial support may be available for eligible students.
English and maths
Students who have not yet achieved the required GCSE grades in English and/or maths will continue studying these subjects alongside their programme.
What will I learn?
Depending on your chosen qualification, you may study:
- Anatomy and physiology
- Fitness training and programming
- Sports coaching and leadership
- Practical sports performance
- Sports psychology
- The sports performer in action
- Fitness testing and analysis
- Training for personal fitness
- Lifestyle and wellbeing
- Running sports events
- Sports promotion and sponsorship
- Exercise programme design
- The sport and active leisure industry
- Personal training techniques
- Nutrition and healthy lifestyles
- Professional development within the sports industry
- Work experience in sport
What skills will I gain?
By studying a Sport qualification you will:
- Develop knowledge of anatomy, physiology and fitness principles
- Learn how to design and deliver training programmes
- Gain coaching and leadership experience
- Improve practical sports performance skills
- Develop confidence working with individuals and groups
- Learn how to analyse and improve sporting performance
- Develop communication and teamwork skills
- Gain knowledge of health, wellbeing and exercise
- Build organisational and event management skills
- Develop professional and employability skills needed by the sports industry
Personal Training pathway skills
- Learners studying Personal Training will additionally develop skills in:
- Client consultations and fitness assessments
- Exercise prescription and programme design
- Nutrition for fitness and performance
- Motivating and supporting clients
- Business planning and marketing
- Health, safety and safeguarding in fitness environments
How will I be assessed?
Assessment methods vary depending on your qualification and may include:
- Practical assessments
- Individual and group presentations
- Case studies
- Role-play activities
- Question and answer sessions
- Work-based assignments
- Portfolio evidence
- Projects and coursework
- Fitness and coaching observations
- Time-constrained assessments
What can I do next?
Successful completion of a Sport qualification can lead to:
A higher-level Sport qualification
A sports-related apprenticeship
University or Higher Education study
Employment within the sport, fitness and leisure industries
Potential career areas include:
- Personal Trainer
- Fitness Instructor
- Sports Coach
- Sports Development Officer
- Leisure Centre Supervisor
- Gym Instructor
- Sports Analyst
- Sports Therapist (with further study)
- Physical Activity Coordinator
- Community Sports Coach
- Strength and Conditioning Coach
- Sports Event Coordinator
- Sports Development Practitioner
- PE Teacher (with further qualifications)
- Health and Wellbeing Advisor
Future careers
Undecided on your future?
Our Future Finder tool can help you explore options and match them to our courses. City of Wolverhampton College partners with employers and leading universities, ensuring our qualifications are relevant and designed to help you succeed.
Discover what life’s like at City of Wolverhampton College
New £61m campus developments
Our new four-storey campus in Wolverhampton city centre is the flagship of the council’s £61 million City Learning Quarter Vision.
State-of-the-art facilities
Study in purpose-built workshops with industry-standard equipment and commercial facilities, gaining real client experience. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, tech-equipped classrooms, and access to laptops, Chromebooks, and tablets—everything you need for success.