Health and Fitness
Exam Board: NCFE – Level 1/2 Technical Award in Health and Fitness (603/2650/5)
Head of department – Fran Conway

The NCFE Health and Fitness qualification at Reading Girls’ School provides students with a practical and motivating introduction to understanding how the body works, how to maintain a healthy lifestyle, and how fitness training is planned, delivered and evaluated.

This course combines theoretical knowledge with hands-on practical experience, helping students build a strong foundation in fitness, nutrition, and personal wellbeing. It also supports progression onto further study in sports science, PE, health-related courses and vocational qualifications.

Years 9, 10 and 11

Students begin the foundations of Health and Fitness in Year 9 and 10, gaining key knowledge in body systems, healthy living and exercise planning. In Year 11, they complete a combination of examined content and a scenario-based assessment, developing both theoretical knowledge and practical applied skills.

Key areas of study include:

• Structure and function of the body systems (cardiovascular, respiratory, muscular and skeletal systems)
• Benefits of fitness and lifestyle improvements
• Principles of training (specificity, overload, progression, reversibility, FITT)
• Nutrition and healthy eating including macro- and micronutrients, energy balance and diet planning
• Health screening and lifestyle analysis identifying lifestyle risks, gathering client information, and forming recommendations
• Designing a health and fitness programme using training methods, goal setting, and progressive planningEvaluating the success of a fitness plan

This practical and applied approach enables students to understand not just what improves health and fitness, but why it works and how to apply it safely and sensibly.

Exam Board and Syllabus Code
NCFE Level 1/2 Technical Award in Health and Fitness (603/2650/5)
Further course information is available on the NCFE website by searching:
“NCFE Health and Fitness Technical Award 603/2650/5”

Structure of the Course
The qualification consists of two mandatory units:
Unit 01: Introduction to Body Systems and Principles of Training

External Written Exam – 40%
Students learn:

• How the body responds to exercise
• Components of fitness
• Principles of training and their application
• Short- and long-term effects of activity
• How health and fitness are measured

The exam includes multiple-choice, short-answer and extended-response questions.

Unit 02: Preparing and Planning a Health and Fitness Programme

Synoptic Project / Non-Exam Assessment (NEA) – 60%
Students are given a client scenario and must:

• Assess lifestyle factors
• Interpret health and fitness data
• Set SMART goals
• Design a tailored training programme
• Justify choices and evaluate the expected outcomes

This scenario-based assessment encourages real-world thinking and develops planning, decision-making, and evaluative skills.

Homework
Students receive regular homework to reinforce key knowledge and support NEA preparation. This may include:

• Learning key anatomical terms
• Retrieval quizzes on body systems and training principles
• Nutrition analysis tasks
• Practice exam questions
• Planning tasks linked to the fitness programme unit

How parents and carers can support

• Encourage regular discussion about health, wellbeing and physical activity
• Support revision of anatomical vocabulary using flashcards or diagrams
• Promote a balanced lifestyle including sleep, hydration and good nutrition
• Ensure that deadlines for the NEA are met and work is well organised
• Encourage participation in physical activity, PE, or extracurricular sport

Useful Links

• NCFE Qualification Page
• BBC Bitesize – PE and body systems resources
• NHS Live Well (nutrition and lifestyle guidance)
• Fitness Blender / NHS Fitness Studio (free workouts)

Why choose Health and Fitness?
This qualification is ideal for students interested in sport, exercise, wellbeing or health sciences. It develops both knowledge and practical skills that support future pathways such as:

• BTEC Sport Level 3
• A-level PE
• Sports coaching or sports leadership
• Health and social care
• Fitness instruction or personal training
• Nursing or health-sector careers
• Physiotherapy or sports rehabilitation (longer-term progression)

Students gain confidence, self-awareness and an understanding of how to improve their own health, fitness and wellbeing — skills they will use throughout life.