The Faculty of Science, Engineering and Social Sciences is the key provider of sport, health and education students and employees across Kent.

Our Faculty offers a wide variety of educational and research opportunities, within Physical Education, Physical Activity and Sport. I hope that this is the beginning of a long association with the University which will continue, after you have completed this course, to support your developing career in the future.

The University has great facilities, including: the University Sports Centre with double sports hall, exercise studio, fitness suite and performance analysis room; Polo Farm Sports Club which includes indoor sports facilities with specialist teaching space for academic courses and venue for netball, cricket and hockey teams.

Innovative facilities have been added to the University with the including the Verena Holmes building which houses specialists labs for sport, exercise and rehabilitation sciences.

The University also offers a Sports Scholarship Scheme for a range of abilities and interests. 

We look forward to working with you!

*Please note that as you only attend University one day a week your Welcome Day is on Tuesday 17 September 2024*

 Year 1 Core Modules:

• Academic Study Skills and Research
• Developing Practical Knowledge
• Teaching and Coaching Principles
• Introduction to Physical Activity, Health and Wellbeing
• Diversity and Inclusion
• Leading in PE and Sport

Think about your own philosophy of physical education, physical activity and sport.

• Why are these subjects important to you and of value to the children or adults whom you teach or coach?
• What does physical activity/physical development/physical education/sport provide for your learners?
• Is practical learning an important part of the curriculum in your workplace?
• What are some of the barriers to developing a high-quality provision for physical education, physical activity and sport?
• If you are a coach, what is your philosophy – to compete to win or to play for personal development?

You will be required to have a recent satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. If you don't already have this ,you can apply for one through your organisation.

Social media

Social media can help you keep up-to-date with activities at the University.

Here are a few University feeds to look at and follow:

• @PhysEd_CCCU
• @christchurchsu
• @CCCUSport

Follow our active PE community Facebook page!

These electronic resources will give you an insight into both physical education and physical activity, and keep up-to-date in your field:

• @afPE_PE
• @YouthSportTrust
• https://twitter.com/Active_Kent

You also may wish to keep track of what we are doing in the Faculty by following us on our Faculty Instagram! 

Visiting these websites will help you start becoming familiar with current policies on physical education, physical activity and sport within your preferred age phase. These will be discussed during your course.

Websites:

• Department for Education
• Department of Health and Social Care
• English Federation of Disability Sport

Community

On the social side, the Student Union (CCSU) has a huge range of clubs and societies – all of which have unique social calendars of their own and offer endless opportunities to make lifelong friends and discover new hobbies. And you can always create your own society and cultivate your own community!

CCSU will be hosting their Welcome Fayre on Wednesday 18th September 2024. Make sure you keep checking the CCSU website for further details and how to get involved.

We understand that you may be nervous about your first few weeks on campus but rest assured - you'll be joining a nurturing and supportive environment where diversity, equality and individuality are part of everything we do.

Find out more about our welcoming community and making friends at CCCU.

If you are an International Student joining us then please see our International Student Support pages for further information and guidance.

Our University library has a range of hard copy texts and electronic resources and e-books. The library resources are rated highly by physical education, physical activity and sport students.

We usually tell students to wait until they commence their course at University to make decisions about buying texts.

It is useful to note that the University Bookshop offers 10% discount on most titles in print and have some price-beating book bundles. They also price match Amazon on core texts recommended in the module handbooks you will receive when you start in September. We also advise you to look at the second-hand book market.

As a PE team from Canterbury Christ Church University, we have had our first text published so this will be a good starting point to look through to consider the teaching and learning environment. You will be taught by the authors of the text as well as other experts in the field of Physical Education, Sport, Leisure and Health:

• Howells, K., Carney, A., Castle, N. and Little, R. (2017) Mastering Primary Physical Education. London: Bloomsbury.

Government documentation and research reports:

• GOV.UK Early Years Foundation Stage
• The National Curriculum

Some key books/readings are as follows:

• Capel, S., Cliffe, J., Lawrence, J. (2021) Learning to teach physical education in the secondary school: a companion to school experience. 5th edn. London and New York: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group
• Fletcher, T., Ní Chróinín, D., Douglas G., and Beni, S. (eds). (2021) Meaningful physical education: an approach for teaching and learning. Milton: Taylor & Francis Group
• Lawrence, J. (2018) Teaching Primary Physical Education. 2nd edn. SAGE.