Post A Job
Advertise Courses
Search Jobs
Search Courses

Free Level 3 Sporting Excellence Course in Leigh

CostFREE
Duration35 weeks
LevelLevel 3
DeliveryClassroom based
Start1 Sep 2027
Study modeFull-time
AttendanceDaytime
Awarding bodyPearson Edexcel awarding body
Apply now →

About this course

Free Level 3 Sporting Excellence Course in Leigh. Classes run at Wigan and Leigh College Leigh Campus, full-time during the day.

The course is free for 16 to 18 year olds. You'll need at least five GCSEs graded 4 to 9, including English or Maths, to enrol. The Pearson Edexcel BTEC National Extended Diploma in Sporting Excellence and Performance is equivalent in size to three A Levels. It is mapped to the Sporting Excellence Apprenticeship Standard. Over 35 weeks, you'll study performance analysis, coaching, sports science, and the physical and tactical demands of elite sport.

You'll finish with a Level 3 BTEC National Extended Diploma in Sporting Excellence and Performance.

Who this course is for

The Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Sporting Excellence and Performance is a qualification for post-16 learners. The qualification is equivalent in size to three A levels. It is mapped to the Sporting Excellence Apprenticeship Standard. It is not exclusively for apprentices and may be used for a performer who is deemed to have the potential to be a professional in a sport that is unable to pay an apprentice wage. It may also be suitable for a performer whose second career choice is to work in the performance sport industry. The qualification will also enable a learner to progress to higher education as a secondary purpose. There are a wide range of optional units to choose from, enabling a learner to select additional specialisms to support progression to higher education , apprenticeships or to a US scholarship in a specific sport.

Entry requirements

A minimum of 5 GCSE subjects graded 9-4 or equivalent including English or Maths.

What you will learn

  • You'll analyse sporting performance using practical and theoretical methods.
  • You'll develop coaching skills and understand how to plan and deliver sessions.
  • You'll study sports science, including anatomy, physiology, and fitness principles.
  • You'll explore the physical, technical, and tactical demands of your sport.
  • You'll examine sports psychology and how mental skills affect performance.
  • You'll learn about nutrition and its role in athletic development.
  • You'll investigate career pathways and the professional sports industry.

How you will learn

You'll learn through a mix of classroom sessions, practical sport activities, and project-based assignments. Assessment is mainly through coursework and portfolio evidence rather than formal exams. You'll complete assignments linked to real sporting contexts, building a body of work across the year. Some units may include observed practical performance as part of your assessment.

What you will need to bring

Wigan and Leigh College Leigh Campus will confirm what you need before you start.

Where next

Jobs you could do

  • Sports coach, plans and delivers coaching sessions in a chosen sport.
  • Performance analyst, tracks and reviews athlete data to improve results.
  • Fitness instructor, supports clients with training in a gym or leisure setting.
  • Community sports officer, runs sport and activity programmes locally.
  • Sports development officer, grows participation in sport at club or regional level.
  • Personal trainer, requires additional fitness qualifications alongside this course.

What you could study next

  • HNC or HND in Sport, a Level 4 or Level 5 qualification that deepens your knowledge of sports science or coaching.
  • Bachelor's degree in Sport and Exercise Science or Sports Coaching, a Level 6 route for those aiming at graduate-level roles in performance or research.
  • Sporting Excellence Apprenticeship, a work-based route this qualification is mapped to, combining employment with structured training.
Apply on wigan-leigh.ac.uk →
Apply now →

Related courses at Wigan and Leigh College Leigh Campus

More courses near you